A petition has been filed before the Delhi High Court to stop private schools from forcing students from Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) to buy high-priced private publisher books, uniform and other kits [Jasmeet Singh Sahni Vs. Union Of India & Ors.]

The public interest litigation (PIL) petition filed by one Jagjeet Singh Sahni has sought directions to all the CBSE-affiliated schools to use only NCERT books and move to private publishers only in cases of genuine shortages.

According to the petitioner, there is a systemic exclusion of EWS children in CBSE-affiliated private schools due to unregulated book pricing and indirect financial burdens through forced purchase of expensive private publisher books and excessive school materials.

“The actual price of NCERT books for the same classes is frequently around ₹65 per book, and yet, private books costing up to ₹400 to ₹700 per book are bundled into "kits" and sold to parents under implicit compulsion,” the PIL states. 

Further, the petitioner has sought formulation of binding rules, regulations or notifications to regulate prescribed booklists and vendors to prevent monopolistic practices.

"“The arbitrary and unchecked practice of prescribing books by private publishers in CBSE-affiliated private schools, in clear disregard of statutory norms and regulatory guidance, has led to widespread financial exploitation of parents and students alike. This unchecked commercialisation not only burdens families with unnecessary expenses but also directly contravenes the letter and spirit of the RTE Act, CBSE Affiliation Bye-Laws, and constitutional guarantees under Articles 14 and 21A of the Constitution of India,” the petition states.

Sahni has also asked for strict implementation of the School Bag Policy, 2020, which mandates that the weight of a school bag should not be more than 10 percent of the weight of the student.

The matter is likely to be listed before Court on August 27.