Age restriction: BISE chairman asked to explain age bar

LAHORE: Lahore High Court (LHC) on Wednesday sought replies from School Education Department secretary and the Lahore Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education (BISE) chairman on a petition challenging the age restriction on admission to 9th class. Justice Shahid Karim of the LHC issued the order on a petition filed by Raeesa Hafeez, a student.

Advocate Sheraz Zaka, the petitioner’s counsel, said that Lahore BISE had not allowed Raeesa to appear in the 9th class exams, saying she was under 12 years of age. “The LHC then granted her provisional permission to sit in the exams, but the BISE administration has refused to let her take the exams,” he said.

He said such a restriction violated fundamental rights. He requested the court to declare the rule illegal.

The court directed the respondents to file their replies by May 6.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 5^th, 2016.