HC issues notice to 16 private schools on implementing RTE

The Gujarat High Court today issued notice to 16 Ahmedabad district-based private schools seeking their response on a public interest litigation (PIL) over alleged non-implementation of the Right to Education (RTE) Act and refusal to admit 25 per cent of underprivileged children.
A High Court division bench comprising acting Chief Justice V M Sahai and Justice R P Dholaria issued the notices to the reputed private schools which have allegedly not given reservations to 25 per cent students from the weaker sections of the society as per the RTE Act of 2009.
The court has directed the schools to reply on whether they have complied with the RTE Act's provision to give 25 per cent reservation or the actions they have taken to implement the Act.

The schools which were issued the notices include Ahmedabad International School at Bodakdev, Delhi Public School (DPS) at Hirapur, Anand Niketan School at Satellite, Udgam School at Thaltej, Prakash School at Vastrapur, Maharaja Agrasen Vidyalaya at Memnagar, Madhav International School at Vastral and FD school at Juhapura.
Zydus Cadila School at Sanand taluka, Asia School at Thaltej, Sant Kabir School at Thaltej, HBK School at Memnagar, Euro School at Hebatpur, DAV School at Sarkhej, Kameshwar School at Jodhpur Crossroads and Shraddha School at Jodhpur village were also issued notices.
Earlier, the High Court had directed the Gujarat government to give details of amounts paid to private schools to grant admission to underprivileged children.

The state was also directed to submit whether it has issued any circular to implement RTE, and if not, give reasons for the same.