Notices to schools for not admitting students under RTE Act

Around eleven schools in the city have been issued notices by the Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai (MCGM) for their failure to admit students under the Right to Education (RTE) Act, the Bombay High Court was told today.
MCGM counsel, Anil Sakhare, told a high court bench of Justices A V Mohta and Amjad Sayed that the civic body would wait for replies from these schools after which it would forward its recommendation to the Director of Education.
The bench was hearing a PIL filed by 'Anudanit Shiksha Bachao Samiti', an NGO, on the behalf of affected parents whose children could not secure admission in current academic session under the RTE Act.

The court had sought clarification from the state government on August 1 over the confusion prevailing in implementing the RTE Act as to who would bear the extra cost in case the school fees exceed the stipulated fee.
The judges had also remarked that the state government had not spread enough awareness on the matter and also not informed the parents that their children would be provided with books as well.
Advocate General Darius Khambata informed the court today that the state would endeavour to spread more awareness and will take necessary steps. Khambata said he will file an affidavit in three weeks on steps taken by the government in this regard.

The court asked the government to clarify its statement that it was planning to extend RTE provisions to junior and senior kindergarten as well. RTE is currently applicable only from class 1.

The government had sanctioned Rs 12,315 as fees for the academic year 2012-13 and Rs 14,621 for 2013-14. The fees in private unaided schools are sometimes higher than this and hence parents fear they may have to shell out the additional amount. They also fear having to buy the books which are too expensive.
The government today reiterated that it would leave the seats vacant in case there were not enough students to be admitted under RTE.

The bench has kept the PIL for further hearing after three weeks.