Last week, the Delhi High Court asked the Center, the Lieutenant Governor of Delhi, and the Delhi government to clarify their position on the demand for a fee waiver for children who lost their parents to COVID-19 until they completed their school education. Justice Yashwant Varma stated, "it appears that one of the reliefs which is claimed is for the waiver of fees of children who may have lost their parents due to COVID-19 till they reach class XII. In view of the above, let learned counsels representing respondent Nos. 1, 2 and 5 file their replies within a period of four weeks from today."

The court noted that the circulars issued by the Delhi Government's Directorate of Education on May 13 and June 7 regarding the uninterrupted education of such children do not specifically address the aforementioned subject, which is also one of the reliefs sought in a pending petition before the court.

The heads of all government, government-aided, and recognised unaided private schools in the national capital were directed in a circular dated May 13 to ensure that students who have lost either or both of their parents due to COVID-19 or any other reason are allowed to continue their studies without interruption. The Court issued the interim order in response to a petition filed by two children who lost their sole breadwinner to COVID-19 in 2021, allegedly due to a lack of oxygen at Jaipur Golden Hospital. The plea was entered by their mother.

The minors had sought the expeditious implementation of education schemes for children like them, who were enrolled in private schools and had lost the sole breadwinner in their family due to COVID-19. Previously, Justice Varma had requested a response from the Delhi Government on the steps it had taken independently to continue the education of such children who had lost parents during the pandemic in aided or government-established schools.

Case Title: Yasmin Kataria & Anr v GNCTD & Ors