HC Seeks Responses of Delhi Govt, CBSE, on Plea against Proliferation of 'Dummy Schools'

The Delhi High Court recently sought responses from the Delhi government, Central Board of Secondary Education, Directorate General of Health Services, Delhi University (DU), and Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University (GGSIPU) on a plea against the proliferation of ‘dummy schools’.

A division bench comprising Chief Justice Satish Chandra Sharma and Justice Sanjeev Narula said that the unchecked growth of ‘dummy schools’ is adversely affecting students who genuinely fulfil the ‘local education’ criterion and allows ineligible candidates to secure seats under the Delhi state quota.

The bench was hearing a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) impugning the eligibility criterion applied by the respondent universities for grant of MBBS/BDS seats under the Delhi State Quota (DSQ).

As per the impugned criterion, only candidates who have completed their 11th and 12th grade education from a recognised school located in NCT of Delhi, i.e., ‘local education’ is considered for grant of seats under the DSQ.

The counsel for the petitioner submitted that in comparison with other states, National Capital Territory of Delhi (NCTD) is ‘unique’ in prescribing a local education requirement as the sole criterion to determine eligibility for state quota.

He contended that the impugned criterion facilitates the mushrooming of ‘dummy schools’ across the NCT of Delhi which consequently disadvantages students who genuinely satisfy the local education requirement under the DSQ.

The counsel also submitted that the ‘dummy schools’ are essentially virtual platforms established in partnership with private schools and coaching institutes which are recognised as schools by the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) even though they do not engage in day-to-day education or have a brick-and-mortar campus.

It contended, “Such schools enroll students residing outside Delhi thereby enabling them to illegitimately exploit the benefit of seats under the DSQ”.

The counsel also apprised the court of the websites of two coaching institutes, which clearly provide dummy school facilities.

Taking note of the submissions, the division bench said, “This court is of the prima facie view that the unchecked growth of dummy schools actively disadvantages students who genuinely fulfill the local education requirement by permitting otherwise ineligible students to obtain seats under the DSQ”.

Accordingly, the court posted the matter for further consideration on November 29.