46 Afghan refugee students of Municipal Corporation Delhi (MCD) school in Delhi’s Jangpura moved a PIL in Delhi High Court on denial of Right to Education (RTE) Act benefits like uniforms, scholarships, etc on the alleged reason of non-opening of their bank account.
Petitioner Social Jurist, a Civil Rights Group, highlighted that Afghanistan refugee students studying in MCD primary school, Jangpura Extension, New Delhi, are deprived of statutory monetary benefits as guaranteed to them under the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009, read with the Delhi Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Rules, 2011 on the alleged ground of non-opening of bank accounts.
The plea filed by Advocates Ashok Aggarwal and Kumar Utkarsh submitted that action on the part of respondents in depriving Afghanistan refugee students of statutory benefits is arbitrary, unjust, malafide, discriminatory, unethical, anti-child, and violates the fundamental right to education.
Plea submitted that in the case of respondent Delhi Government and respondent MCD, in lieu of providing textbooks, writing material, and uniforms, money is transferred to the accounts of students. The relevant Rule 8 of the Delhi Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Rules, 2011
It further stated that the respondent, MCD Primary School, Jangpura Extension, New Delhi, has enrolled 178 students. It is submitted that out of 178, there are 73 Afghan refugee students studying at the school. It is also submitted that all students of respondent MCD Primary School, Jangpura Extension, are receiving statutory monetary benefits through their bank accounts, except 46 Afghan refugee students who don’t have bank accounts.
