( 1 ) THE challenge in this writ petition is against the action of the Principal of the Delhi Public School, Mathura Road, New Delhi in detaining the petitioner in Class X during 1997-98 academic year.

( 2 ) ACCORDING to the petitioner he is a student of Class X in the Delhi Public School, Mathura Road, New Delhi a recognised unaided school. His father is a Tabla Teacher in the said school. The petitioner has been studying in the said school from the very beginning. Though he had failed in Mathematics in Class IX he was promoted to Class X. There were also other students who had failed in various subjects in Class X during 1996-97. Some had failed in as many as four out of five subjects. When they were summarily promoted, the petitioner was given promotion by respondent No. 3, the Principal of the School, only after much persuasion a pleadings. It is alleged that respondent No. 3 had been forcing the petitioner to withdraw from the school on the ground of his poor performance in the first terminal test. The petitioner has placed on record the copy of a letter dated 3. 9. 1997 written by the Principal (Annexure-P2) to the parent of the petitioner stating that the p