In 2004, the Supreme Court ordered that the Delhi government examine if private schools had complied with contracts which require provision of free education for the poor as a condition for being allotted land at a concessional rate. In the past few decades the wedge dividing the schools of rich from those of the poor has been driven even deeper. This paper discusses the background of the clauses in the land allotment contracts and the law that makes it incumbent upon private schools to provide free seats for the poor. A case study of a private school which has been integrating 50 per cent of non-fee paying students with the others for the past 20 years is also highlighted.
