Renowned for his extensive legal work in public interest litigations, particularly in the education sector, Advocate Ashok Agarwal is making his electoral debut from Karawal Nagar in the upcoming Delhi Assembly elections on February 5, 2025. He is one of the two candidates fielded by the CPI(M) Delhi State Committee, marking the party’s renewed attempt to gain a foothold in the capital’s political landscape.
As the founder of Social Jurist, Agarwal has spent over 25 years championing reforms in education through Public Interest Litigations (PILs). However, he now believes that real change requires a political platform. “I have been actively raising issues related to health and education for a long time, but in the last five years, I have focused even more on these sectors. People are denied basic human rights. Courts are relevant but have limitations; they alone cannot bring major changes in society. Politics provides an opportunity to bring systemic reforms that litigation cannot,” he explains.
Pitted against Manoj Tyagi (AAP), Kapil Mishra (BJP), and Dr. P.K. Mishra (INC), Agarwal believes that his decades of social work will resonate with voters. Agarwal remains confident that his candidacy will bolster CPI(M)’s presence in Delhi. “I have spent my life fighting for the rights of students, parents, and marginalized communities. I am hopeful that people will see the value in my work and support me.”
Associated with CPI(M) since his college days, Agarwal briefly joined the Aam Aadmi Party during its early years, only to leave soon after. “I didn’t find AAP pro-people. I had supported it and joined with the hope of doing good work, but soon realized it was more of an NGO brand, thriving on crisis rather than governance. They don’t understand the nuances of government and merely organize events to create a hype around themselves,” he remarks.
Agarwal’s journey in activism began with a landmark case in 1997 against arbitrary fee hikes in private schools, setting a precedent for regulatory reforms in education. “That case was the start of a long battle to make education more accessible. While I have made some impact, I was not able to organize parents and people on a larger scale to fight for their rights. That is why I have now turned to active politics—to mobilize the masses for broader, lasting change.”
Notable PILs Filed by Ashok Agarwal:
- Fee Regulation in Private Schools (1997): Challenged arbitrary fee hikes in Delhi’s private schools. The Delhi High Court’s 1998 ruling mandated 531 schools to refund excess fees to parents, setting a critical precedent.
- Inclusive Education for Children with Disabilities (2008): Filed a PIL highlighting the lack of trained teachers and facilities for disabled students in Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) schools, emphasizing the need for equitable education.
- Infrastructure Deficiencies in Government Schools (2023): Brought attention to dilapidated conditions in North-East Delhi’s government schools, leading to court directives for improvements.
- Educational Rights for Rohingya Refugee Children (2024): Challenged the denial of school admissions to Rohingya refugee children, arguing that the Right to Education Act applies irrespective of nationality.
- Overcrowding Due to Incomplete School Infrastructure (2023): Filed a PIL regarding an unfinished school building in Mukundpur, where 8,000 students were forced into overcrowded classrooms, impacting their education and health.
As the campaign gains momentum, Agarwal remains optimistic about his chances. “I want to tell my electorate that I am the best candidate to represent their interests. My track record proves that I fight for the people, and I will continue to do so in the Assembly. I urge voters to support me so we can bring real change together.”
(Autar Nehru)
