A contempt petition has been filed before the Delhi High Court by civil rights group Social Jurist, represented by Advocate Ashok Agarwal. The plea alleges wilful disobedience of court directions by the Delhi Government’s Education Secretary for failing to provide textbooks to nearly 10 lakh students in Classes I to VIII studying in government schools. The matter is expected to come up for hearing on Wednesday.

The petition has been filed under Sections 11 and 12 of the Contempt of Courts Act, 1971, along with Article 215 of the Constitution, seeking action against the Secretary (Education) for not complying with earlier directions issued by the High Court in July 2024 in a public interest litigation. According to the plea, despite clear judicial directions and undertakings made before the Court, textbooks and essential learning materials have not been distributed even weeks after the start of the 2026–27 academic session on April 1.

The petition states that the delay has significantly affected foundational learning and interrupted academic progress. In an earlier order dated April 8, 2024, the High Court had recorded an assurance from the Education Secretary that books, notebooks, and writing materials would be supplied to all students within a fixed timeline, without any financial constraints. Later, through its order dated July 4, 2024, the Court accepted these assurances and directed strict adherence to timelines for procurement and distribution of educational materials.

It further notes that internal directives of the Education Department required textbooks to be made available by the last week of March or at the very beginning of the academic session. However, the current situation shows a complete failure to meet these timelines, the plea said. It also highlights that schools are set to close for summer vacation on May 9 and will reopen only on July 1, leaving students without textbooks for nearly three months.

The petitioner contends that this situation undermines the very purpose of education and increases the disparity between private and government school students. The plea also alleges that students are being compelled to depend on outdated or reused materials, which is insufficient and violates their statutory rights under the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009, as well as their fundamental right to education under Article 21-A of the Constitution. Describing the lapse as a “deliberate and intentional disobedience” of court orders, the petition calls for initiation of contempt proceedings and appropriate punishment of the concerned official in accordance with the law.

Inputs from ANI 

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