HC notice to Govt, Private schools on 25% quota for poor children

The Jammu and Kashmir High Court has issued notices to the state government and private schools in a contempt petition for not complying with the previous orders wherein the authorities were asked to accord consideration to 25 per cent reservation in admission for underprivileged students in private schools of the state.
Issuing notices to the J&K Government through the Chief Secretary, Commissioner Secretary, School Education Department, Commissioner Secretary, Revenue Department, and the principals of private educational institutions, the High Court has directed these respondents to file their compliance report by next hearing.
Disposing of a public interest litigation filed by Mohammad Ahsan Untoo, the High Court had on May 12, 2016, asked the state authorities to consider and take decision on the representation submitted by the petitioner seeking framing of a policy for reservation of 25 per cent quota under the Right to Education Act, 2009, for the students of underprivileged class in all private schools of the state and for formulation of a comprehensive education policy for the state within two months from the date of the order.
However, as stated by the petitioner in the contempt petition, despite the passage of over six months, no steps have been taken by the state government respondents in terms of the orders passed on May 12, 2016.
“Despite due notice, the contemnors have till date neither implemented the contents of the judgment in its letter and spirit nor have they reported compliance in terms of the judgment,” the petitioner has prayed in the contempt petition while praying for initiating contempt proceedings against the authorities concerned.
The notices on behalf of the Chief Secretary, Commissioner Secretary, School Education Department, and Commissioner Secretary, Revenue Department, were accepted by Deputy Advocate General Sheikh Manzoor.
In his PIL, Untoo had also sought details and the status report with respect to the leased land currently under the possession of the private schools of the state along with the tenure of the lease, rent recoverable from all such institutions and the condition of the lease granted to such institutions.
No steps taken to frame education policy: PIL
The High Court had on May 12, 2016, asked the state authorities to consider and take decision on the representation submitted by the petitioner seeking framing of a policy for reservation of 25 per cent quota under the Right to Education Act, 2009, for the students of underprivileged class in all private schools of the state and for formulation of a comprehensive education policy for the state within two months from the date of the order. However, as stated by the petitioner in the contempt petition, despite the passage of over six months, no steps have been taken by the state government respondents in terms of the orders passed on May 12, 2016.