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A month after a Class 10 student was murdered by a schoolmate at Seventh Day Adventist School in Khokhra, Ahmedabad, the Gujarat High Court on Wednesday proposed that the institution admit 1,000 children, about 10% of its pupils, either free or at a nominal fee as a tribute to the victim.
Justice Nikhil Kariel said such an initiative would be “a true tribute to the deceased student,” and directed that the matter be heard again next week. The court also ordered strict enforcement of the state’s School Safety Policy.
Under the Right to Education (RTE) Act, private unaided schools must reserve 25% of seats in Class 1 for children from disadvantaged backgrounds, though minority institutions are exempt.
Seventh Day Adventist School has minority status for its higher-secondary section and is seeking similar recognition for its primary wing, which affects how the RTE quota applies.
The high court’s suggestion of a 10% quota at nominal fees would run parallel to, and not replace, this existing legal requirement.
The District Education Officer (DEO) had earlier issued a notice to the school and sought documents, a move the High Court upheld while refusing relief to the management. The DEO now has a free hand to investigate compliance with regulations.
During the hearing, Justice Kariel asked whether the school was following the RTE mandate or offering scholarships. Government counsel said officials had been trying for two years to ensure compliance without success.
The school’s lawyer noted that a scholarship had been announced in the victim’s memory.