HC acts on bias, asks DM to file counter affidavit

ALLAHABAD: Taking cognizance of the alleged discrimination of students belonging to Musahar community (listed as scheduled castes), the Allahabad High Court on Monday intervened in the Right to Education of Dalit students in a public interest litigation filed by the law students of different universities associated with Human Rights Law Network, Allahabad. A division bench comprising Chief Justice FI Rebello andJustice Prakash Krishna directed the district magistrate, Varanasi to enquireinto the matter and file a counter affidavit.The district magistratehas to inform the court as to what remedial steps have been taken for thestudents, who are forced to leave the school. The respondents were directed tofile counter affidavit and the matter shall come up for hearing on July27.The PIL was argued by first year law student of AllahabadUniversity Mehul Khare and assisted by Luv Saggi, a student of University ofPetroleum and Energy Studies, Dehradun.A team of law students namelyMehul Khare, Luv Saggi, Kush Saggi, Tanmay Sadh, Sagar Mehrotra and AanchalAthwani visited a primary school, Pindara in Varanasi and found that the dalitstudents belonging to Musahar community were discriminated. They were made tosit separately in the class.The petitioners asserted that after theconstitutional amendment and insertion of Article 21-A and enactment of TheRight of Education to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009 (Act No. 35 of2009),it is the duty of the state and administration to ensure the admission,attendance and completion of education of children of the disadvantaged classand weaker section from age 6 to 14 years.