Disposed

Shubhay Ahuja v. Delhi Public School Rohini through Principal & Ors.

Delhi HC19 Sept 2024W.P.(C)/12803/2024

Case brief

AI extract

What is this about?

A student sought directions to his school to issue his academic year 2023-24 progress report, report card, transfer certificate and permanent education number, which were withheld over unpaid fees. Relying on a Division Bench ruling that school leaving certificates cannot be withheld for non-payment of fees, the Court directed issuance within 15 days.

What the court decided

AI extract

Shubhay Ahuja Vs Delhi Public School Rohini through… — Education and Admissions | Delhi HC (2024)

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$~5

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IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI AT NEW DELHI

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- W.P.(C) 12803/2024 & CM APPL. 53386-87/2024 SHUBHAY AHUJA .....Petitioner

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Through: Mr. Rishabh Dua & Mr. Harikesh Anirudhan, Advocates

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versus

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DELHI PUBLIC SCHOOL ROHINI THROUGH PRINCIPAL & ORS. .....Respondents Through: Ms Sakshi Mendiratta, Advocate for R-1/School. Mr. Divyam Nandrajog, Panel Counsel, GNCTD with Mr. Prakhyat Gargasya, Advocate for R-3

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CORAM: HON'BLE MS. JUSTICE SWARANA KANTA SHARMA

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O R D E R % 19.09.2024

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CM APPL. 53388-89/2024 (exemption)

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Allowed, subject to all just exceptions.

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Applications stand disposed of.

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W.P.(C) 12803/2024

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The present writ petition under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, has been instituted on behalf of the petitioner, praying as follows:

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“...i. Pass an appropriate Writ, Order or Direction, directing the Respondent School to immediately issue/handover Progress Report, Report Card for the Academic Year 2023-24 of the Petitioner and issue Transfer Certificate & Permanent Education Number in favour of the Petitioner; and

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ii. Pass an appropriate Writ, Order or Direction, directing the

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This is a digitally signed order. The authenticity of the order can be re-verified from Delhi High Court Order Portal by scanning the QR code shown above. The Order is downloaded from the DHC Server on 30/09/2024 at 12:19:05

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Respondents No. 1 & 2 strictly abide by the rules, regulations and order of the Respondent No. 3...”

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Mr. Rishabh Dua, learned counsel appearing on behalf of the petitioner submits that the Progress Report, Report Card for the Academic Year 2023-24 of the petitioner and Transfer Certificate & Permanent Education Number of the petitioner herein has been held back, on the ground that the enhanced fees has not been paid by the petitioner.

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Ms Sakshi Mendiratta, learned counsel for respondent no. 1 states that the School has never intended to not give the Progress Report, Report Card for the Academic Year 2023-24 of the petitioner and Transfer Certificate & Permanent Education Number to the petitioner, but it was only due to the non-payment of fees by the petitioner that the certificate was not issued to him. Learned counsel for respondent no. 1 further submits that they will not hold back the Progress Report, Report Card for the Academic Year 2023-24 of the Petitioner and issue Transfer Certificate & Permanent Education Number of the petitioner herein. Let Progress Report, Report Card for the Academic Year 2023-24 of the petitioner and Transfer Certificate & Permanent Education Number be issued, as per the statement made by learned counsel for respondent no. 1, subject to the condition that if the instant petition is decided against the petitioner, the petitioner will pay the hiked amount, in accordance with law.

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This court also takes note of the order passed by the Hon‟ble Division Bench of this Court, passed in W.P. (C) 6658/2019 & CM APPLN. 30816/2019 , dated 11.07.2019, the relevant portion of which reads as under:

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“3. Even if the fees of Respondent No.2 School are yet to be paid by the students, Respondent No.2 is duty bound to give the School Leaving Certificate under the Delhi School Education Act

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& Rules, 1973 (hereinafter referred to as “the DSEAR, 1973”).

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Withholding of School Leaving Certificate is not permissible much less under Rule 167 of the DSEAR, 1973.

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Learned counsel appearing for Respondent No.2 School submitted that the first student, namely, Kartik has to pay Rs.31,905/- as outstanding amount of school fees and the second student, namely, Priyansh has to pay Rs.68,426/- as outstanding amount of school fees towards Respondent No.2 and hence the School Leaving Certificates of both these students have not been granted by Respondent No.2.

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Having heard learned counsels for both sides and looking into the facts and circumstances of the case, and also looking to the provisions of the DSEAR, 1973, enacted under the Delhi School Education Act, 1973, the Respondent No.2 cannot withheld the School Leaving Certificate either of student Kartik or of student Priyansh, on the ground that the school fees are yet to be paid by them.

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As per Rule 167 of the DSEAR, 1973, for the non-payment of school fees, the name of the students can be struck off from the rolls of the school. The School Leaving Certificate cannot be withheld therefore, by Respondent No.2.

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There are methods of recovering the outstanding school fees with the school. Even a suit could have been filed by Respondent No.2 upon the parents of the students, which has not been done so far. No such suit has been instituted by Respondent School for the recovery of outstanding fees.

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In view of these facts, this Court is of the opinion that the School Leaving Certificates cannot be withheld by the respondents.”

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Thus, keeping in view the aforesaid, and that the petitioner has undertaken to pay the hiked amount if the instant petition is decided against him, this Court directs respondent no. 1- Delhi Public School, Rohini, Delhi, to issue/handover Progress Report, Report Card for the Academic Year 2023-24 of the Petitioner and Transfer Certificate & Permanent Education Number to the petitioner, within a period of 15 days from today.

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In view of the above, the present petition stands disposed of.

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This is a digitally signed order.

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The authenticity of the order can be re-verified from Delhi High Court Order Portal by scanning the QR code shown above. The Order is downloaded from the DHC Server on 30/09/2024 at 12:19:05

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The order be uploaded on the website forthwith.

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SWARANA KANTA SHARMA, J

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SEPTEMBER 19, 2024/zp

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Click here to check corrigendum, if any

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Shubhay Ahuja v. Delhi Public School Rohini through Principal & Ors.

Case brief

What is this about?

What the court decided

Shubhay Ahuja v. Delhi Public School Rohini through Principal & Ors.

Case brief

What is this about?

What the court decided

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