National Commission for Scheduled Castes (NCSC) on Sunday said it will issue notices to the District Magistrate and Police Commissioner in Jalandhar, days after three Dalit siblings were allegedly barred from appearing in the final examinations by a private school as their father failed to deposit their fees.
"Not allowing Dalit students from appearing for the exam just because they couldn't pay the fees on time is a matter of grave concern. No school has the authority to deny any student permission to take exams just because they are unable to pay the fees," NCSC vice president Rajkumar Verka said.
"The Commission will soon issue notices to the District Magistrate and Police Commissioner and will seek report on the issue. It will take action against those responsible," he said, adding they "cannot play with the lives of these children."
Earlier, Balwinder Singh, a driver, had said that he had requested the St Soldier School authorities to give him time till March 20 to pay the pending fees of last two months but they agreed to wait till March 10 and, as he was unable to deposit it, his children were not allowed to appear in exams.
Meanwhile, school Principal Pratibha, refuting the allegation, said, "The students were not barred from appearing in the exam. They had appeared in the examinations conducted before March 10 but later they stopped coming to school on their own."