The Delhi government on Thursday ordered Delhi Public School (DPS), Dwarka, to readmit 32 students it had rusticated earlier this month over non-payment of fees. The Directorate of Education (DoE), in an order, also directed the DPS Dwarka management to abide by the Delhi High Court's directions issued on April 16 and "not to harass students” and “restrain from taking any coercive action”. In its April 16 order, the HC had termed DPS Dwarka’s action against students “a very alarming state of affairs” and chastised the school for using the institution as a “money-making machine”. Justice Sachin Datta had restrained DPS Dwarka from engaging in any discriminatory practices against students, who had protested over a hike in fees. The HC had also directed the school not to prevent such students from interacting with others or subject them to any form of prejudice or humiliation. In its order, the DoE noted that it had received multiple complaints from parents of students between May 9 and 13, from which it inferred that around 32 students had been rusticated over non-payment of fees. The order stated that on Tuesday, a high-level inspection team from DoE had visited the school. "The inspection team heard both sides – the aggrieved parents as well as the school authority.," it said, adding that the team highlighted issues, while maintaining that "there is no rationale" behind rusticating students, as no child should suffer because of a fee dispute. The DoE further directed the school head or manager to submit a compliance report within three days. Meanwhile, parents of 102 students of DPS Dwarka have moved HC seeking direction to the DoE to examine the school for not complying with judicial orders as well as administrative orders issued by the department. The petition, filed on May 7, comes after 32 students were expelled by the school. The DoE submitted before the court of Justice Vikas Mahajan on Thursday that it is “supporting” the petitioners. Its counsel, Sameer Vashisht, referring to the school expelling 32 students, told the court, “What is the hurry, why are they (DPS Dwarka) overreaching the court?” Taken up briefly for hearing on Thursday, the matter will be heard by the court again on Friday. WHAT THE DoE INSPECTION TEAM OBSERVED: # Lack of rationale on the part of the school in expelling students # It was "not appropriate” for the school to send students back home on a bus without parental consent # Interpretation of a July 2024 HC order on the definition of hiked fees different for both school and parents, requiring legal clarification from courts # No stay granted on a May 2024 order by DoE on fee hike rejection at DPS Dwarka, and thus it is still enforceable on the school # Withholding admit cards or transfer certificates is not appropriate
