NEW DELHI: The numerous orders and notifications being issued regarding the nursery admissions every other day has left parents confused. No one is sure what the status is at present, which court - the high court or the Supreme Court - will finally decide what happens to the admissions this year and when their tots will start school. Some schools starting classes on April 15 hasn't helped matters.

Parents have begun consulting their own lawyer acquaintances for clarity. "A client of mine is an SC lawyer. I had a talk with him on the current situation. What he told me about SC dates is very alarming. He told me that in SC, dates are given many months away in normal cases and if the SC thinks the case is very sensitive and time-bound, and needs an immediate judgment, the best they can do in these cases is give dates 20 days away," says a parent. Another parent adds that it seems unlikely - factoring the schools' summer vacations and the courts' dates, along with general delays - that the process will begin before September.

There is also worry over the fees that many paid during the few days admissions were permitted by the high court. That round closed on April 9 and the April 3 order allowing admissions has been stayed by Supreme Court. "One court told us to decide and deposit fees within a few days and another has stayed that process. We had secured the seat for our child by paying a handsome amount," says another.

Some parents gathering on admissionsnursery.com are even considering appealing to the petitioners and asking them to withdraw the case.

"What about parents who have already paid a quarters' fees as per the last HC decision? Will schools refund them if the session begins after the summer vacation? Many parents, expecting the case to go on till after the summer vacations have cancelled holiday plans," says Sumit Vohra of admissionsnursery.com. He adds that several minority schools - and even the odd non-minority one - beginning session on April 15, has confused parents further. The starting of session on April 15 wasn't a high court direction but that of Directorate of Education.