The AAP government is planning to enact a law that will include provision for imprisonment up to 10 years if any school or person subjects any child to screening for admission to an entry-level class. The AAP government is also planning to de-recognise schools that fail to comply with the directions of the director (education).
A proposed draft of “the Delhi Education (Amendment) Bill, 2015 to amend the Delhi School Education Act, 1973 (18 of 1973)” says that the new amendments will be applicable to the whole of the national capital.
The new amendments will come into force on such date as the government decides, by notification, in the official gazette.
The draft bill has specified that no school or person shall while admitting a child to an entry-level class or the child’s parents or guardians subjected them to any screening procedure.
“An entry-level class means and includes a pre-primary or pre-school class where children below six years of age are admitted... Screening procedure means the method of selection for admission of a child, in preference over another, other than a random method.”
The draft says that if any school or person subjects a child to a screening procedure for admission to an entry-level class, they shall be punished with imprisonment for a term which shall not be less than 5 years but which may extend to 10 years, provided that the court impose a sentence of imprisonment for a term, which may be less than five years. The draft says if the manager of the recognised school fails to comply with any of the directions issued by director or any other authority under this Act, the director may, after considering the explanation or report, if any, given or made by the manager, take such action, as he may think fit.
The proposed action by the director would include written warning to the school, with directions to take remedial or corrective measures as directed; stoppage of aid, if any; imposition of fine; in case of embezzlement of school-funds or concealment of income generated from the fees, recovery of the said amount and depositing thereof in the government-account or any other account directed; suspension of admission to entry-level class or classes for a particular year with a cumulative effect; taking over the management of the school; de-recognition of the school.
Whoever contravenes the provisions of the Act or the rules shall, on conviction, be punished with imprisonment for a term which shall not be less than three years but which may extend to seven years and shall also be liable to fine which may be minimum of '1 lakh and further extendable to Rs 5 lakh.
