Parents staging a demonstration at Jantar Mantar and demanding the Delhi government’s intervention to ‘safeguard the rights of our children’.
| Photo Credit: SHIV KUMAR PUSHPAKAR
Several parents of students enrolled at Delhi Public School, Dwarka, staged a demonstration at Jantar Mantar on Saturday. Most parents at the historic protest site included those whose children were expelled by the school for non-payment of the hiked fees, but reinstated subsequently on the orders of the Delhi High Court.
The protesters alleged that while the school had allowed their children to attend classes, its administration “continues to harass them by not sharing summer holiday homework and other school-related information”.
Sheetal Sharma, whose son studies in Class 4 at DPS Dwarka, said, “The future of my son is uncertain. We were removed from the school’s official WhatsApp groups. All official information regarding homework, school activities, and summer projects is conveyed via these groups.”
The Hindu received no response from DPS Dwarka principal Priya Narayanan over the allegations levelled by the parents.
The parents demanded immediate intervention by the Delhi government to “safeguard the rights of our children” and ensure “compliance with official directives”.
They also claimed to have received an e-mail from the school regarding “outstanding fee dues”, which are “higher” than what the Delhi High Court asked them to pay.
In its May 16 order, the court had directed parents to deposit 50% of the hiked fees for the current academic year, following which their wards would be allowed to continue in their respective classes.
Praveen Menon, one of the aggrieved parents, said, “There is a mismatch in our calculations based on the court’s order and the amount that the school is demanding.”
On June 10, the Delhi Cabinet approved an ordinance to regulate school fee hikes. The ordinance will become law upon receiving President Droupadi Murmu’s approval.
Divya Mattey, one of the protesting parents, said, “We don’t know if the ordinance will help. But we are hopeful.”
Published – June 15, 2025 01:27 am IST
