Latest news with #RightofChildrentoFreeandCompulsoryEducation
Hindustan Times
16 hours ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Haryana rights panel seeks report on 27 govt schools in Hisar in unsafe buildings
The Haryana Human Rights Commission on Tuesday took suo motu cognizance of 27 government schools functioning in unsafe buildings in Hisar district and directed officials to make safe arrangements for students within eight weeks. The commission said after seven students were killed and 28 injured when a building collapsed in neighbouring Rajasthan recently, the state government should take proactive measures to ensure no such tragedy occurs in Haryana. (PTI file) 'Multiple government schools continue to function in buildings that have been officially declared condemned due to their unsafe structural condition. Children, some as young as six years old, are being exposed daily to unsafe structures, many of which include broken staircases, damaged water tanks, sealed toilets and unstable walls and roofs,' the three-member commission, led by justice Lalit Batra (retd), said. The panel said that the ground situation in Hisar district reveals not merely administrative negligence but threat to the safety, dignity and psychological well-being of schoolchildren. It observed that the absence of safety protocols amounts to a direct and deliberate compromise with the lives of the students. 'Such conditions not only violate the physical safety of the students but also result in mental trauma, fear, and academic disruption undermining their right to education in a safe environment,' said justice Batra, adding 'During monsoon, there is a risk of exposure to snakes and other threats due to the lack of proper infrastructure. In severe instances, entire school buildings, including toilets, staircases and kitchens, have been rendered unusable.' The panel said it is the constitutional duty of the state government and the department of education to ensure the safety of students. It said that the failure to provide basic infrastructure, including structurally safe buildings, toilets, water and classrooms, particularly after buildings have been officially declared unsafe, constitutes criminal abdication of duty and gross violation of child safety norms under the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education (RTE) Act, 2009. The commission said after seven students were killed and 28 injured when a building collapsed in neighbouring Rajasthan recently, the state government should take proactive measures to ensure no such tragedy occurs in Haryana. It directed the principal secretary, school education, director general of secondary education, Hisar deputy commissioner and additional deputy commissioner along with the district education officer to submit a report about the status of each condemned building and safe arrangements for students within eight weeks. The panel also sought a timeline for reconstruction and budget allocation, number of students impacted, alternate accommodation provided or proposed and explain the delay in the reconstruction/relocation despite condemnation of buildings.
New Indian Express
5 days ago
- Politics
- New Indian Express
No restriction on deploying school teachers for poll duties: EC to court
NEW DELHI: The Delhi High Court on Wednesday heard a petition filed by several Delhi government school teachers challenging their appointment as Booth Level Officers (BLOs), contending that such deployment violates existing rules and guidelines. However, the Election Commission of India opposed the plea, stating that its guidelines were amended in June to allow such appointments. The matter came up before Justice Mini Pushkarna, who issued notices to the ECI and the Delhi government, directing them to place all relevant facts on record. The case has been listed for further hearing on September 25. The petitioners, who are serving teachers in Delhi government schools, are aggrieved by office orders issued on June 9 and June 16, which directed them to take charge as BLOs. In their submissions, the teachers argued that their deployment contravenes the ECI's earlier guidelines issued on November 3, 2010, and October 4, 2022. These guidelines, according to the petitioners, stipulate that teachers should only be considered for BLO duties after all other eligible categories of employees have been exhausted. The petitioners also cited Section 27 of the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education (RTE) Act, 2009, which bars the assignment of non-educational duties to teachers. They further argued that they belong to Group B service, while the government has allegedly avoided assigning BLO duties to employees in Group C. In response, the Election Commission submitted that its guidelines were amended on June 5, 2025, allowing the appointment of any regular Group C and above employees, enrolled as electors in the relevant area, as BLOs. The ECI maintained that the revised guidelines no longer restrict the appointment of teachers.
The Hindu
5 days ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
Why can't Tamil Nadu government fulfil RTE obligation without waiting for central funds under Samagra Shiksha Scheme, asks Madras High Court
The Madras High Court on Thursday (August 7, 2025) wondered why Tamil Nadu government is not fulfilling its Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education (RTE) Act obligation, of reimbursing private unaided schools which admit poor neighbourhood students under the Act, without waiting for central funds. A Division Bench of Justices G.R. Swaminathan and V. Lakshminarayanan said, the reluctance on the part of the State government in fulfilling the financial obligation, without depending upon the Centre, would only give an impression as if the State was not interested in educating poor children under the RTE Act. The observations were made during the hearing of a contempt of court petition filed against School Education secretary B. Chandra Mohan and Director of Private Schools P. Kuppusamy for having failed to implement an order passed by the Division Bench in a public interest litigation petition on June 10, 2025. Special Government Pleader U.M. Ravichandran said the State government had preferred an appeal before the Supreme Court on Thursday (August 7, 2025) against the orders passed in the PIL petition. After recording his submissions, the Bench adjourned the hearing on the contempt plea to August 14, 2025. The PIL petition had sought a direction to the State government to commence the RTE admissions for the academic year 2025-26 without any delay and feared that the delay in reimbursing the fees to the private unaided schools for the previous academic years might affect the admissions this year. Disposing of the plea on June 10, the Division Bench had taken note that there was a tussle between the Centre and the State government due to the latter's reluctance to implement the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 and it had led to complaints of the Centre withholding the funds due to the State. Then, the Bench also found that the State government had already approached the Supreme Court complaining about the Centre not having released Samagra Shiksha Scheme (SSS) funds to the tune of ₹2,151.59 crore which included the Centre's share towards the RTE component. After directing the Centre to consider delinking the RTE component, from the SSS funds, the Bench also issued a direction to the State government to reimburse the private unaided schools, which make admissions under the RTE Act, without waiting for the disbursement of central funds. 'The State government has an obligation to reimburse private unaided schools. Non-receipt of funds from the Union Government cannot be cited as a reason to wriggle out of this statutory obligation,' the court had observed while disposing of the PIL petition. It was alleging wilful disobedience of this order that the present contempt of court petition had been filed.
India Today
6 days ago
- Politics
- India Today
Supreme Court directs states to act on orphans missing out on free schooling rights
The Supreme Court has instructed all states to conduct a comprehensive survey to identify orphaned children who have been deprived of their right to education under the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education (RTE) Act, 2009.A bench comprising Justices B V Nagarathna and K V Viswanathan issued the directive while hearing a public interest plea concerning the welfare and educational rights of orphans across the country. The Court also asked the Centre to consider including data on orphans in the upcoming 2027 national gaps in existing welfare policies, the petitioner argued that both central and state government schemes for orphaned children fall short of addressing their educational and social needs. The Court echoed the concern, noting that there is currently no official nationwide record of orphaned children, a void that hampers effective policymaking. In its order, the bench directed all states to carry out a two-part survey: one, to record orphaned children who have already been admitted under provisions of the RTE Act, and two, to identify those who have been denied this right, along with the reasons behind it. The states have been given four weeks to file their respective bench further urged that, while data collection is underway, authorities must make parallel efforts to ensure that eligible orphaned children are immediately enrolled in nearby also took note that certain states, including Gujarat, Delhi, Meghalaya, and Sikkim, have already amended policies to include orphaned children within the 25 percent reservation quota for economically weaker sections and disadvantaged groups under Section 12(1)(c) of the RTE Act. The Court encouraged other states to consider issuing similar notifications and submit related affidavits before the next hearing scheduled for September the proceedings, the petitioner strongly advocated for the inclusion of orphan status as a demographic indicator in the forthcoming census. 'There should be a dedicated field for orphans,' the bench remarked, directing this request towards Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, who was present for a different positively, Mehta said, 'It should be. I will take this up. Orphans are our responsibility.'The Court acknowledged that juvenile justice committees in all High Courts and several national consultations are already addressing these concerns, suggesting that progress is being the petitioner contended that while India offers a range of benefits including reservations, scholarships, and jobs to children from Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, and Other Backward Classes, there remains a glaring absence of structured support for orphans. Citing UNICEF estimates, the petitioner noted that India is home to approximately 25 million orphaned children, yet there is no official count or dedicated policy framework to support further questioned why, during the upcoming caste-based census, there was no provision to document orphaned children, despite the significance of the data for future 16th national census is set to begin in 2027, with October 1, 2026 marked as the reference date in snow-bound areas such as Ladakh, and March 1, 2027 for the rest of the issue has been under the Supreme Court's consideration since 2018, when it agreed to examine whether orphans with no social or familial links could be granted reservation benefits on par with SC, ST, and OBC communities in education and public this latest order, the Court has taken a significant step towards recognising and addressing the educational needs of one of the country's most vulnerable populations.(With PTI inputs)- EndsMust Watch
New Indian Express
29-07-2025
- General
- New Indian Express
33 CM Shri schools to hold admission tests, 50% seats reserved for govt students
NEW DELHI: In a major development, the Delhi government has announced that 33 CM Shri Schools across the city will conduct admission tests for Classes VI, VII, and VIII for the academic session 2025–26. The Directorate of Education (DoE) on Tuesday issued detailed guidelines for the entrance examination, which aims to identify meritorious students for entry into these model schools. These schools, designated as 'specified category' under the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education (RTE) Act, 2009, are envisioned as model institutions equipped with advanced infrastructure and modern pedagogical practices aligned with NEP 2020, CBSE, and NCERT norms. The admission process is aimed at ensuring transparency and merit-based selection, with a special focus on high-performing and deserving students. Notably, 50% of the available seats will be reserved for students currently enrolled in Delhi government-run schools, including MCD, NDMC, Kendriya Vidyalayas, Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas, and government-aided schools. Only Delhi residents currently studying in Classes V, VI, and VII in recognised schools are eligible to apply for Classes VI, VII, and VIII, respectively. A relaxation of 5% in eligibility marks will be offered to students belonging to SC/ST/OBC (non-creamy layer) and children with special needs (CWSN), as per DoE policy. Results will be declared on September 10, and the admission process will be completed by September 15. The examination will be an OMR-based objective test, bilingual in nature, without negative marking. Applications to be open till August 15 The online application window will remain open till August 15, with admit cards to be issued from August 23 onwards. The entrance test is scheduled for August 30.
