Latest news with #RTEAct-2009
Hindustan Times
5 days ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
RTE Act: HC seeks compliance affidavit from Punjab
The Punjab and Haryana high court (HC) has sought a comprehensive affidavit from the Punjab government on a contempt petition moved by a trust alleging violation of the HC's directions of February 2025, whereby the court had ordered implementation of Right to Education (RTE) provisions by private schools in the state. Taking note of the submissions, the high court has posted the matter for September 1, directing the government to file a comprehensive affidavit as regards to February 19 order and also about the directions issued by high court on April 9. The contempt petition was moved by the KS Raju Legal Trust, on whose public interest litigation the February order was passed. In the fresh plea, the petitioner mentioned that on February 19, the HC ordered all private unaided schools to reserve 25% of class 1 seats for students from the economically weaker section and directed the state to ensure compliance from the 2025–26 session. It was also told that on April 9 the court had asserted that that RTE Act-2009 be followed to the hilt while making admissions in class 1 and in case, there is any conflict between the provincial rules of 2011 and the Central Act of 2009, then the provisions of the Central Act would prevail. However, the orders have not been complied with by the state in letter and spirit, the plea stated. Taking note of the submissions, the high court has posted the matter for September 1, directing the government to file a comprehensive affidavit as regards to February 19 order and also about the directions issued by high court on April 9. Notably, in July, the high court also issued notice to Punjab on a plea from the same petitioner demanding a probe by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) into alleged lapses in the implementation of Right to Education (RTE) provisions by private schools.
Hindustan Times
23-04-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
EWS admissions: Punjab govt, private schools slammed for ignoring RTE Act
Chandigarh The Punjab government and private unaided recognised schools drew flak from social activists and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) on Tuesday for their 'lack of interest' in admitting children from economically weaker sections, as mandated by the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education (RTE) Act, 2009, despite a directive from the high court. Addressing a press conference here, several social activists and representatives of the 'Action Committee for RTE Act-2009 in Punjab' said that the state government and its officials were not serious about implementation the provisions of the RTE Act. They pointed out that no EWS admissions had been carried out in most districts, even two months after the court order. 'When parents of children from EWS families, social activists and various organisations approach private schools, the school authorities claim they have not received any instructions and feign ignorance about the procedure. There is also no clarity on whether it is the responsibility of the schools or the district authorities to admit the children. The situation is totally confusion,' said social activist Onkar Nath, a retired bureaucrat. Nath, who was among the petitioners in the case, stated that in Delhi and Chandigarh, the school education departments had set up their portals, invited applications from underprivileged children, and ensured their admissions un private unaided recognised schools through a transparent process. 'The Punjab government has neither created awareness nor issued any guidelines regarding the procedure to be adopted for the implementation of section 12(1)(c) of the Right to Education Act. There is no application form, no guidelines regarding income limits, no monitoring cell, etc. We submitted a list of 22 EWS children to the school education department who were refused admission by private schools in writing,' he claimed, putting the total number of such schools at 9,500. Fatehjang Singh, Taranjeet Singh, Kirpal Singh, Sarabjit Singh and Sanyogita, Didar Singh and other members of the 'Action Committee for RTE Act-2009 in Punjab' and representatives of the Krantikari Lok Chetna Manch were also present. They warned that if steps were not taken immediately to implement the RTE provisions, the action committee would organise a statewide protest and even file a petition in the court for contempt of court. The RTE Act mandated unaided private schools to admit in Class 1 children from weaker sections and disadvantaged groups in the neighbourhood to the extent of 25% of the strength of that class and provide free and compulsory elementary education till its completion. However, the state government framed its own rules in 2011 and virtually nullified the provision. The Punjab and Haryana high court had, in its February 19 order, directed all the private unaided recognised schools in Punjab to reserve 25% of their Class 1 seats for children from weaker and disadvantaged sections in the state. The state government was ordered to ensure strict enforcement of the ruling in the 2025-26 academic session.
