New Delhi, Jan. 7: In Delhi’s local courts, tiny tots have taken precedence over criminal cases and compensation claims.

Since nursery school admissions began on January 2, parents have been queuing before the court counters that sell stamp papers to gain that extra edge for their children.

Most private schools have for the past few years been giving priority to the children of single parents and to the single girl child. But first, their parents need to draw up an affidavit on a 10-rupee stamp paper and attach it to the admission form.

Lawyers, who regularly need to prepare affidavits on stamp paper for their cases, are complaining that there aren’t any left for them by the time the tide of parents eases at the counters.

With virtually each set of parents trying their luck with at least 10-12 schools, 10-rupee stamp papers are running out fast.

“These extra points for admission mean a lot to us as they might decide whether our child gets a school at all,” said Komal Singh, 32, as she held on to her four-year-old with one hand while trying to hail an auto with the other outside the Tees Hazari courts.

“We have to get one affidavit made for each school we apply to. Even I didn’t get a 10-rupee stamp paper, so I bought a 50-rupee stamp paper,” she rued.

Hundreds of parents turn up every day in front of the counters well before they open. Many parents are being forced to buy stamp papers that cost Rs 20, Rs 50 or even Rs 100 — so even these are in short supply.

A Delhi Bar Association member who didn’t want to be named said the situation would continue till the schools stopped accepting admission forms after January 16. He said it had been the same story the past two or three years.

“Yet no one takes any note of it. Lawyers cannot operate without stamp paper even if it is for 15 days. The treasury should increase the number of stamp papers it issues during this admission period,” the lawyer said.

An official at the Karkardooma courts in east Delhi said the counters were struggling to handle the large crowds

“A fight breaks out at these counters almost every day as soon as the stamp papers are brought in from the treasury in Tees Hazari. Parents jostle with lawyers and their clients,” he said.

A lawyer rued that he and his colleagues were being forced to “run like madmen to get our affidavits done even as our cases are being heard”.

“Even the typewriters on the court premises are being kept busy by these parents, and we lawyers can’t do anything but watch,” he added.

However, one school said the parents don’t need to get so many stamp papers.

“The problem is that the schools’ message isn’t getting through to the parents. They need to prepare just one affidavit and submit copies to the various schools,” said the administrator at a private school in central Delhi.

“After their children secure admission to a particular school, they just have to submit the original to them.”

The touts are making merry, said a lawyer. “They are charging Rs 200-300 for a 10-rupee or 20-rupee stamp paper, including the typing fees.”