Bombay High Court Rules on RTE Admissions for Private Schools

Mumbai: The Bombay High Court has ruled that the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE), Indian Certificate of Secondary Education (ICSE), and other affiliated boards must allow private unaided schools to admit students beyond their current capacity for the 2024-25 academic year in Class 1. This decision comes in light of the court's earlier judgment regarding the Right to Education (RTE) Act, which mandates a 25% quota for underprivileged students. On July 19, the court quashed a government notification that exempted private schools from admitting RTE quota students if a government school was located within a 1km radius. The court directed these schools to increase their total number of seats if necessary, ensuring compliance with the RTE Act. The advocate for the schools expressed concerns that the additional students admitted under the RTE quota were unable to attend classes due to potential restrictions from the affiliated boards. The court emphasized that there should be no objections from the affiliated boards regarding the increase in admissions for this academic year. The Chief Justice questioned the necessity of seeking permission from these boards, suggesting that the schools should simply comply with the court's directive. The bench clarified that the judgment applies to all affiliated bodies, reinforcing that they are bound by the court's ruling. Furthermore, the court assured that admissions already granted to students prior to the notification's stay would remain intact, while emphasizing that schools must fulfill the 25% RTE quota in their admissions.