HC upholds two entry levels under RTE

‘Admit students in pre-school, class 1’

In a setback to private schools, the High Court of Karnataka on Monday upheld the validity of the Government Order that had made mandatory for private schools to admit students at two entry points — pre-school and class one simultaneously.

Justice S. Sujatha passed the order while dismissing petitions filed by New Age Educational Trust and other institutions questioning the validity of the Government Order dated March 6, 2017.

‘Reservation justifiable’

“Action of the respondents [State authorities] in allotting students to the educational institutions, both in pre-school and class one, is legal and intra vires [within the power] of the Right to Education Act. The reservation of 25% in class one and pre-school at both entry levels simultaneously for children belonging to weaker sections and disadvantaged group is justifiable,” the court held.

The petitioner-institutions had contended that the State cannot compel the schools to earmark 25% seats for admission under RTE quota at two entry points, while claiming that entry point should be either in pre-school or class one. Providing admission under RTE at two entry points would amount to doubling the reservation provided under the RTE Act, the petitioners had claimed.