The Delhi High Court on Friday questioned Delhi Public School (DPS), Dwarka's recent decision to rusticate over 30 students over non-payment of fees. .During the hearing of a plea challenging the school's decision, Justice Sachin Datta said,"You took this action on the last working day. The children have been ousted in the crucial last week. Do you get a sadistic pleasure?".Justice Datta further questioned why the school had not issued notices to the parents of the students before taking the final call."Before you struck off these children, where is the notice under Rule 35 (4) of Delhi School Education Rules? Where is the notice to each of the 32 students? Show me a notice whereby you informed the students that if you don't pay the fees, you would be struck off the rolls," the Court asked. Counsel appearing for the school said that they are in deep financial trouble and had incurred a loss of nearly ₹49 crore last year. Ultimately, the Bench said that it will hear the case again on Monday and pass orders. .The Court was hearing the plea filed by the parents of 32 students allegedly expelled by DPS Dwarka for non-payment of fees. They argued that the decision was contrary to the High Court's earlier order, which protected the interests of the students. The parents stated that bouncers were placed outside the school to stop these students from entering the premises. They further alleged that despite several reminders, the school deliberately did not encash the cheques submitted to pay the fee approved by the government authorities. .The parents have filed the application in a pending plea moved by DPS against the order of the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) directing the Delhi Police to file an FIR against the school. It was alleged that the school confined students to the library, named them publicly and expelled a few of them for non-payment of fees. In one instance, a girl was denied help during menstruation because her fee was due. The order to register the FIR was later stayed by the High Court. However, in an order passed on April 16, the High Court severely criticised the school over its decision to segregate and harass students who did not pay the fee. The school was ordered not to stop any student from attending classes. .Meanwhile, a co-ordinate bench of the High Court today reserved its decision on a separate petition moved by some parents seeking directions for takeover of the school by the Delhi Lieutenant Governor (LG). Pertinently, the Delhi government has already ordered DPS to readmit the students. According to Indian Express, the Directorate of Education (DoE) issued an order directing the DPS Dwarka management “not to harass students” and “restrain from taking any coercive action”..[Read live-coverage]
