New Delhi: The Delhi High Court Tuesday warned a mother of strict action and termed as a "criminal offence" her withdrawing her child from school.
Justice Manmohan asked the Delhi government to admit the 13-year-old girl child to a school in Green Park area by Sep 22 and also get her medically examined Wednesday.
The woman's ex-husband had moved the court after she withdrew their child from school.
"It's a criminal offence to withdraw a child from school. You committed an unpardonable act. I am not taking strict action. But if you withdraw the child again, I will take strict criminal action. I will be monitoring this matter," the court told the mother.
The court took into note that though the girl was 13 years old, she had only studied till Class 2 and was physically very weak.
The court also sought a status report from the government on the admission and medical examination of the child by Sep 29, the next date of hearing.
The court also said that under the Right to Free and Compulsory Education Act, it was mandatory for a child between six to 14 years to get education.
Justice Manmohan left it to the discretion of the school principal to admit the girl in an appropriate class and asked to monitor her progress and "to give her extra facilities so that she can adjust in the class".
The Delhi government was also asked to monitor the case.
Three advocates were also appointed as amicus curiae to assist the court.
Dharmendra Kapoor, father of the girl child, told the court that his ex-wife withdrew their child from the Green Field School and did not send her to any other school.
Kapoor said he had admitted their child in DPS Sushant Lok, Gurgaon, but his ex-wife took their daughter with her, while leaving their home after divorce.
The girl was later admitted to the Green Field School, but his ex-wife withdrew her from the school, and made her sit at home and not go to any other school.
The court had earlier issued a bailable warrant against the woman and asked her to appear before it. The woman appeared in court Tuesday.
