In a recent case of Delhi Public School Dwarka, the school was pulled up by the Delhi High Court on Wednesday for treating students with “indignity” over a fee dispute by confining them in a library and not allowing them to attend classes or interact with peers.
Delhi Public School Dwarka Treating Students Like Chattel
The school, which was treating students like “chattel”, deserved to be shut down, claimed the High court justice Sachin Datta.
Moving ahead, the court stressed on the placement of some safeguards that can ensure that the students were not “tortured” by the school, which was running the institution merely as a “money making machine”.
It looked like a scene from a drama where several students in their school uniforms, with books and bags, were presented during the court proceedings along with their parents.
The judge expressed his concern saying, “I am concerned with you treating the students in a shabby and inhumane way which is brought out in the inspection report. Assuming the fee is not paid, you are entitled to take action but surely not in this manner. What is this going on? Inability to pay fees does not give the school the licence to treat students with such indignity.”
In this regard, the high court examined an inspection report of an eight-member committee led by the district magistrate (southwest).
They found several discriminatory practices against students amid the fee hike row.
They also noted that the students were barred from attending regular classes and confined to the library.
Very Alarming State of Affairs
This way restricting the access to the canteen and not allowed to communicate with friends and closely monitored by guards during washroom visits.
The court asked the school, “What kind of conduct is this? Such a school does not deserve to be open for a single day. DoE must conduct a thorough inquiry into this. What action are you taking? They are treating students like chattel. What action are you (DoE) taking against such a school to tackle this emergent situation.”
Besides this, the parents of the aggrieved students claimed the school authorities had harassed their children on the non-payment of the “unauthorised fee”.
While describing the school’s conduct, the committee reported “very alarming state of affairs” in the school which was harassing the students in the guise of non-payment of fee, according to the court.
Further the report urged the government to immediately take over the school.
Moving ahead, the court ordered the institution to refrain from confining the students in the library and further allow them to attend classes.
The court directed against their segregation from other students or prevented them from interacting with their friends in turn stopping them from accessing the school’s amenities.
While commenting on the school’s action, the court said, “You should criminally prosecute the principal of the school for subjecting the students to such indignity.”
This matter came into picture over the plea of students in a pending petition of DPS in the national capital’s Dwarka region.
The matter was moved to the court in July 2024, assailing a July 18, 2024 notice of National Commission for Protection of Child Rights.
Further directing the deputy commissioner of police to register an FIR under the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act against the school.
