Delhi HC stays AAP govt`s notification fixing four years as upper age limit for nursery admission

New Delhi: In yet another blow to the Arvind Kejriwal government, the Delhi High Court on Friday stayed its previous notification fixing four years as upper age limit for nursery admission.

The notification was issued by the Directorate of Education on December 18 on nursery admissions.

The court also ruled that parents can now apply for nursery admission of their children above 4 years by February 9.

The high court had on Thursday stayed the AAP government's order scrapping management quota in nursery admissions in private unaided schools, saying the decision was taken without the authority of law.

It also stayed the Delhi government's January 6 order with regard to 11 other admission criteria, including issues like proven track record of parents during admission of their children.

Justice Manmohan in his interim order said that the government's January 6 decision was also in contravention of the Lieutenant Governor's 2007 order on nursery admissions in private unaided schools.

He said the autonomy of private unaided schools with regard to nursery admissions cannot be restricted by an office order and has to be done under the law.

The court, however, added that if there were any malpractices with regard to nursery admission criteria in private unaided schools, then they should be investigated and taken to their logical conclusion.

The court clarified that the observations made and the view taken by it are only "prima facie" and not final.

Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia had yesterday said that the AAP government will appeal against the Delhi High Court's order restoring the management quota in private unaided schools for nursery admissions.