The Delhi High Court issued a firm directive to the Delhi government on Wednesday. The court wants the government to ensure that parent-teacher associations are properly set up and working in all private schools across the city.
Court Issues Notice to Education Directorate
A bench led by Chief Justice DK Upadhyaya and Justice Tejas Karia heard a public interest litigation. The PIL was filed by the NGO Justice for All. The court issued a formal notice to the Directorate of Education in response. It also demanded a detailed response from the education authorities.
Questioning the Lack of PTAs
The court posed a direct question to the DOE during the hearing. It referenced the PIL's claim that about 170 institutions currently lack a parent-teacher association. "What steps have you taken to ensure these associations are functional?" the bench asked pointedly. The judges instructed the Directorate of Education to file an affidavit. This document must outline all measures taken so far to address the issue.
PIL Highlights Systemic Failures
The public interest litigation brought serious allegations to light. It contended that many recognized unaided private schools in Delhi have failed to constitute PTAs. This is a clear violation of the mandates under the Delhi School Education Act.
The plea added further troubling details. It stated that many private schools either do not form PTAs at all. In other cases, schools create what the PIL describes as "sham" bodies. These associations have hand-picked members, effectively depriving parents of a legitimate and representative forum.
The Broader Implications
This court directive underscores a significant governance issue in Delhi's education sector. Functional PTAs are crucial for parental involvement and school accountability. The court's intervention seeks to rectify a systemic gap that affects thousands of parents and students.
The Delhi government and its education directorate must now demonstrate concrete action. The affidavit they submit will be scrutinized by the court. It will detail how they plan to enforce compliance across all private schools in the national capital.
