DCPCR ‘strongly advises’ schools to not withhold Class 10, 12 admit cards

NEW DELHI: Delhi Commission for Protection of Child Rights (DCPCR) advised all schools to not withhold the Class 10, 12 board exam admit cards 2023. The DCPCR advisory comes after the Delhi High Court order that stated a child cannot be barred from taking examination in the middle of an academic session on grounds of non-payment of fees.

The Delhi HC was hearing a petition filed by a CBSE Class 10 student of a private unaided school whose name was struck off the roll due to non-payment of fees.

Concerned about the right of education (RTE), the DCPCR said that the Class 10, 12 board exams 2023 and results will impact their career, college choices and employment. Withholding admit cards will inflict damage on Class 10, 12 students which will be “irreparable”, it said.

The DCPCR further said: “Every year it receives complaints of the act of many schools withholding the admit cards of students until the very last second and using it to extract fees which the parents have contested in courts and other forums.”

“A child cannot be made to suffer and not be allowed to attend classes or barred from taking examinations in the middle of an academic session on the ground of non-payment of fees,” the Delhi High Court said on January 17, 2023.

The Delhi HC in an order dated May 31, 2021 said that “The school management shall not withhold the name of any student/candidate for the ensuring board examinations for Classes 10, 12 on the grounds of non-payment of fees/arrears for the academic year 2020-21.”

Taking cognisance of the complaints, the commission “strongly advised” all schools to ensure all students get their admit cards without any delay. It also advised all Deputy Directors of Education to be vigilant and sensitive to the issue and take immediate and strong action against schools that withhold admit cards of students.