Circulars Issued By Directorate Of Education Should Also Be Issued In Hindi Language: Delhi High Court

The Delhi High Court has held that the notices and circulars issued by the Delhi Government's Directorate of Education (DoE) should not be restricted to the English language alone and must also be issued in Hindi.

Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma issued directions after DoE's counsel said that the circulars and notifications, even pertaining to admission of children belonging to the EWS category, are issued only in English.

“It is necessary that the notices/circulars issued by the Directorate of Education should not be restricted to the English language alone which are meant for admissions under EWS category, specifically those which lay down the guidelines and the mandatory documents etc. which are required to be uploaded by the parents of such candidates, since this leads to significant barriers in communication and compliance by those for whom these circulars are meant for. This sentiment has been expressed by many parents in multiple cases before this Court,” the court said.

It added that notices must be issued in the Hindi language as well in order to ensure that all parents, regardless of their educational background or linguistic proficiency, have equal access to crucial information given by DoE.

“This dual-language approach will help to prevent future instances of non-compliance due to language barriers and ensure that the rights and opportunities available under the law are accessible to all citizens, particularly those from disadvantaged backgrounds,” the court said.

Furthermore, Justice Sharma directed the DoE to ensure, through its various Education Officers, that information regarding the validity of the income certificate and other documents required and to be furnished by parents applying for admission under the EWS category is widely spread.

The court said that DoE will also upload this information in Hindi for the general public of the national capital for their easy understanding.

“It will be appropriate that DoE may upload a video which explains the process of applying for admission under the EWS category, which should also incorporate the mandate of filing a valid income certificate and what a valid income certificate means, as well as the other documents required which are to be filed by the candidate/applicant,” the court said.

It added that such videos should be prepared in both Hindi and English languages and any other Indian language, as may be deemed appropriate by the Director of DoE or the Delhi Government.

The court disposed of a plea moved by a boy, through his father, seeking the child's admission in nursery class under the EWS category in a private school.

It was the child's case that the school denied him admission and did not accept the renewed income certificate of his parents.

The DoE took a stand that as per its recent circular issued in April, an income certificate for applying for admission in the EWS category must have been issued prior to applying for the admission process.

The child's counsel admitted that the income certificate of his parents was issued only one month prior to applying for admission and thus, at the time of applying for the admission under EWS category, the minor did not have a valid income certificate.

The court did not find any ground to direct the school to grant admission to the child under the EWS category as the minor was not eligible to apply for the same, at the time of seeking admission under the EWS category.

However, the court noted that the parents involved in the case belonged to the economically weaker section and were not as well-educated as in many other cases.

“They are often unaware of the specific requirements mandated by the DoE regarding the validity of an income certificate and the importance of uploading and producing valid income certificate as on the date of applying for such admission. The situation is exacerbated by their limited understanding of the English language and lack of awareness about this strict mandate regarding validity of income certificate,” the court said.

Title: MASTER HARMANPREET SINGH THROUGH MR. PARAMJEET SINGH v. DIRECTORATE OF EDUCATION, GOVT. OF NCT OF DELHI & ANR.

Citation: 2024 LiveLaw (Del) 970

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