Gauhati HC directs school to admit child

Guwahati: The Gauhati High Court has directed school authorities, who had denied admission to a hearing impaired child, to admit the child as a part of the child`s Right to Education.

The child was denied admission by Don Bosco School in Silapathar of Assam`s Dhemaji district in 2011 following which his father, Dinesh C Chandak, approached the Gauhati High Court with the help of Disability Law Unit of Shishu Sarothi. Justice Hrishikesh Roy of Gauhati High Court had last year directed that as an interim measure, the application of the child for admission for 2013 should be received and considered by the school authorities. The Court again passed an order in November last year directing that since the admission for the next academic session was scheduled to begin on December 10, 2012, a seat should be kept vacant in the Lower KG class to accommodate, if need be, the hearing impaired child of the petitioner. The school authorities subsequently considered the application for admission of the child and admitted him as a student of Lower KG of Don Bosco School, Silapathar. Disability Law Unit`s Assistant Project Coordinator Emilly Dey pointed out that struggle continues for many such children with disability, inspite of legislations such as Persons with Disabilities (Equal Opportunity, Protection of Rights and Full Participation) Act, 1995 and the enactment of the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009. PTI