Allahabad High Court Directs Private School to Admit Student Under RTE Act, Highlights Education’s Role in Social Transformation
Last Updated on August 6, 2024 by News Desk
The Lucknow bench of the Allahabad high court has ruled that private unaided schools cannot deny admission under the Right to Education (RTE) Act on trivial issues that do not hamper the root of eligibility criteria. The court directed the respondent Lucknow Public School to complete the formalities for admission and permit the petitioner to attend classes.
The court also allowed the writ petition, filed by the petitioner from a humble background, with the cost of ₹3000 to be given to the petitioner within three weeks.The petitioner’s counsel argued that she was not given admission or permitted to attend classes after being selected and allotted a school. She filed a petition seeking direction to the state authorities to ensure her admission under the RTE Act, 2009 for the 2024-25 session in the school.
The court observed that education is an important lever for social, economic, and political transformation, and that the government of India has initiated programs and projects to achieve universalization of elementary education.The court stated that it is the responsibility of Private Unaided Schools to participate in nation-building exercise by providing equal opportunity of education to disadvantaged children through affirmative action as prescribed in the RTE Act, 2009.
The court emphasized that welfare and beneficial legislation requires substantial compliance and must be interpreted in favor of the disadvantaged.
