Students can also take admission in the nearest school of their ward: High Court

Prayagraj, 05 April (HS). Allahabad High Court said that under the Right to Compulsory Education Act, a child cannot be refused admission in the nearest school of another ward on the grounds that he can take admission only in the nearest school of the ward of his residence.

The court has canceled the order of the Block Education Officer, Moradabad, to deny admission to a four-year-old student of Ward 15, Moradabad, in the nearby school of Ward 16 and has ordered to consider giving admission to the petitioner in the school. The court has said that if admission in the school has been closed then the petitioner should try in the next session.

The court said that the purpose of admission in the nearest school is to give admission to more children in the school with less travel time. This does not mean that one should take admission in the same ward. He can also take admission in a school in another nearby ward, this cannot be ruled out. Preference can be given in admission to the school of the residential ward only.

Justice Saurabh Shyam Shamsheri has given this order while disposing of the petition of Master Ajit Pratap Singh. It was said on the petition that the petitioner can take admission in the nearest school of any ward. He cannot be forced to take admission in the ward where he resides. Doing so is a violation of the Compulsory Education Act.

The petitioner is a resident of Ward 15. She had applied in the 25 percent quota reserved for the disadvantaged group in the pre-nursery class of Aryans International School, Majholi Road, Ward 16. Which was rejected by the Block Education Officer Moradabad on the grounds that the child had applied to a school located in a ward other than his own. He has no right to this.