New Delhi, Jan 16 (IANS): After some private schools reportedly refused admission to children living in the neighbourhood, Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia on Monday said the schools were allotted land "practically free of cost" with some conditions and they should abide by them.

"In 298 out of the 450 schools operating on government land, strict conditions were set related to fee, admission and education for the poor," Sisodia wrote on his blog.

"While directing Directorate of Education (DoE) of the Delhi government, the Supreme Court in its April 2014 judgment clearly said the Education Director should ensure within three months that the conditions in the allotment letter are followed," he added.

Sisodia said that while the government was to formulate guidelines for nursery admissions within three months of the judgment, but it didn't happen till recently.

"Whatever may be the reason behind that (the delay), but now that the government has decided to issue guidelines as per that Supreme Court's order, the 298 schools should follow them," he added.

Some school bodies and some parents challenged the DoE's recent circulars that laid down the guidelines for nursery admission for the 2017-18 session. The notifications have made "distance" the primary criteria for tiny tots' admissions.