CCPCR urges Badnore to notify schools

Chandigarh, December 7

The Chandigarh Commission for Protection of Child Rights (CCPCR) today urged Punjab Governor and Chandigarh Administrator VP Badnore to issue a notification to end the confusion over EWS quota in private schools in the city.

CCPCR chairperson Harjinder Kaur said, “In 2006, 15 per cent seats were reserved for students belonging to economically weaker sections (EWS) of society as per the land allotment conditions finally decided by the Chandigarh Administrator.”

“Further, under the RTE Act 2009, 25 per cent seats are to be reserved for students belonging to economically weaker sections of society and disadvantaged groups,” she said. “But the RTE Act is not applicable to minority institutions. Therefore, non-minority schools are required to reserve 25 per cent seats for students belonging to economically weaker sections while minority schools are required to reserve 15 per cent seats for such students,” she said.

She said as the decisions in this regard had already been taken by the competent authority but a uniform pattern for all educational institutions was required at this moment to end the confusion among parents and schools.

In the Allotment of Land to Educational Institutions (Schools), etc, on Lease-hold Basis in Chandigarh Scheme 1996, there was a provision of reservation of 15 per cent seats for EWS students in private unaided schools. In an amendment in 2001, reservation of seats for EWS candidates was reduced to five per cent from 15 per cent. However, vide Allotment of Land to Educational Institutions (Schools) on Lease-hold Basis in Chandigarh (Amendment) Scheme 2005, the reservation of seats was raised to 15 per cent again.

In 2013, the Punjab and Haryana High Court stated that in view of the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009, the extent of reservation, where land had been provided at concessional rates, would not exceed the total reservation of 25 per cent; and the compensation under the said Act would be vis-a-vis the extent of over and above the reservation made while grant of land at allegedly concessional rate, if so envisaged, in the documents. — TNS