St Kabir defers draw of lots

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, January 17

After the District Education Officer sent a communiqué, St Kabir School, Sector 26, whose minority status was challenged by the UT Education Department in the Punjab and Haryana High Court, postponed its date for the draw of lots scheduled for Friday. 

The school had sent a letter to the DEO on November 28, 2018, requesting to depute an observer for the draw of lots. In the letter, the school informed that the draw for admission in Nursery would be held on the school premises at 3.15 pm.

In context of the stay granted by the Punjab and Haryana High Court against operation of minority status, the legal counsel opined that the stay was deemed to be vacated under Article 226(3) of the Constitution.

To its reply, a letter dated January 16 by the DEO stated: “The interim stay granted will continue unless it is specifically vacated by an order of the court, the necessary implication is that school is bound to comply with the RTE Act and reserve 15% seats for EWS. If school violates the stay orders in so much so that it grants minority quota, the same shall be contempt of the court.”

Gurpreet Singh Bakshi, Administrator of St Kabir School, Sector 26, said, “The DEO was informed about the legal opinion on November 28 and a second letter asking for an observer for the draw of lots was sent on January 10. The third letter was sent on January 16 with a list of applicants. They bothered to reply after three months. They purposely delayed the letter so that we are left with no choice, but to postpone the draw.”