Allotment of EWS seats delayed again

NEW DELHI: Admission to the seats reserved for economically weaker sections and disadvantaged groups in private schools has been delayed again, with the first computerised draw of lots to be held on March 15.

The first computerised draw of lots for nursery, kindergarten and Class 1 EWS/DG seats were to happen on March 7, which was postponed to March 8, citing “technical reasons.” Now it has further been delayed in light of two court orders, which has directed the government to fill any unfilled seats of the previous year and also raised questions over certain restrictive sections of the online admission portals.

“There were two orders, in two different cases, heard by the same judge on the same day. We have only just received the second order, and are studying it to see if anything needs to be complied with. We do not want to do anything that would not satisfy the orders,” said Saumya Gupta, Delhi’s director of education, who added that they were taking utmost care to ensure that parents are not inconvenienced and have sent SMSS to all regarding the change in the timeline.

The second order, issued on February 21 and shared with Hindustan Times by an advocate, directs the government “to ensure that any unfilled seats in the EWS quota under the Right to Education Act, shall be filled from among pending applications for academic year 2017-18.”