Private unaided schools of the national capital have become a "hub of corruption" as they are running "admission rackets" under the garb of management quotas, Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia claimed in Delhi High Court today.
Defending his government's decision to scrap management and some other quota from private school admissions, Sisodia told Justice Manmohan this was done to check "unfair and exploitative criteria" and prevent any "discrimination against children in getting education".
"Private schools have become a hub of corruption ('loot ka adda') and they are running admission racket under management quota. We have taken this step (scrapping of quota) to stop such practice in the future.
"If the people of Delhi will support us, we can remove this from the root. We receive 20-30 complaints from parents every day about their malpractices and demand of donation for granting admission to children," said the AAP leader, who was allowed by the court to speak on the petitions challenging the Delhi government's January 6 order scrapping 62 criteria, including management quota, in nursery admissions.
As he placed the complaints in a sealed cover before the court, the judge was prompted to ask Sisodia why he had not taken any action against those schools against whom he has received numerous complaints.
"You (Delhi government) have evidence with you. You take action against those involved in malpractice. You have the documents with you from last three-six months, so you take action.
"Please take it to a logical end. You have full team and administration with you, what more you want," the judge said and asked "is there any order from the court stopping you from doing so?"
The court said "if the Delhi government has complaint of malpractice by schools, it has to be stopped once and for all, you do it."
The court further said "there are some very-very good institutions. You cannot paint all of them with the same brush."
To this, Sisodia said "if we (Delhi government) take action, they will remove those kids whose parents have given the complaints to us.
