Delhi Govt's probe reveals private schools misusing allotted land; HC affidavit filed

New Delhi (The Uttam Hindu): The Directorate of Education, Delhi Government has submitted an investigation report to the Delhi High Court, revealing that several private schools have misused land allotted to them at subsidized rates. According to the affidavit filed on February 15, 2025, before Justice Manoj Jain’s bench, multi-storey residential buildings and community halls were found constructed on land meant for schools. In several locations, ongoing construction was observed, even though the schools have existed on paper for years.

The Directorate has recommended that the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) cancel the allotment of land to 53 private schools. Previously, it had advised the cancellation of 52 schools’ allotments. The DDA has initiated the process of revoking land allotments for 105 private schools in total.

The investigation found that schools did not exist at 21 locations, where instead, multi-storey buildings or community halls were being used for other activities. Out of the 32 locations where schools were present, 25 percent failed to adhere to the condition of providing free education to low-income students.

This issue was first raised in a 2013 PIL filed by senior advocate Khagesh Jha and advocate Shikha Sharma Bagga against 350 private schools. The petition argued that these schools were not admitting 25 percent of students under the Economically Weaker Section (EWS) quota, despite acquiring expensive land at discounted rates under this condition. Education directors across Delhi’s 13 districts later identified 176 schools for inspection, leading to the present findings.