New Delhi: The Delhi government has told the Delhi High Court that it is ready to reimburse the cost of books and uniforms to students from the economically weaker sections (EWS) and has begun the process.

Submitting an affidavit to the division bench headed by Chief Justice Ajit Prakash Shah and Justice Sanjiv Khanna Wednesday, the city government agreed to reimburse the cost of Rs.500 for uniforms and books ranging from Rs.80 to Rs.350 to every child studying in schools of the delhi government.

The government also informed the court that 10,262 children had been admitted under the freeship quota in academic year 2008-09.

"Since financial assistance is to be given to all the students studying as on date under freeship quota for which figures were being collected from the schools, therefore, the finance department was approached for sanction of financial assistance for a tentative number of 12,000 children," the affidavit stated, mentioning that a grant of Rs.8.7 million has already been approved.

Social Jurist, an NGO, had filed a public interest petition seeking direction from the court to reimburse the cost of books and uniforms to the EWS students.

The petitioner stated that as per the Delhi government rules framed in 2006, private schools would reserve 15 percent seats for EWS students while the government would reimburse the cost of books and uniforms to them, but the rule has not been implemented. IANS