Nagpur High Court Intervenes in RTE Admissions, Extends Deadline
The Nagpur bench of the Bombay High Court has provided crucial temporary relief to parents seeking admissions under the Right to Education (RTE) Act, directing the Maharashtra government to grant additional time for submitting applications. Acting promptly on the court's directive, the state school education department has officially extended the deadline to March 18, 2024.
Court's Interim Directive and Hearing Details
A division bench comprising Justices Anil Kilor and Raj Wakode issued the interim directive while hearing a writ petition filed by Shankar Atram and Karishma Bangde concerning the admission process for the 2026-27 academic year under the 25% reservation quota mandated by the RTE Act.
During the proceedings, the bench referenced its earlier order dated March 9 in a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by social activists Ashish Fulzele, Aniket Kuttarmare, and Vaibhav Kamble from Nagpur. The activists had argued that new government rules imposed "unjust restrictions on children's rights" and undermined the fundamental objectives of the RTE Act.
Background: Previous Court Intervention
The High Court had previously stayed a government decision issued on February 12, 2024, which had restricted applicants to selecting only 10 schools and imposed a one-kilometer distance limit. The court observed that these restrictions were prima facie inconsistent with the provisions of the RTE Act and Articles 14, 21, and 21-A of the Indian Constitution.
In its earlier ruling, the bench permitted petitioners to apply to schools located within a three-kilometer radius of their residence and directed the state government and relevant authorities to modify the online admission system accordingly. Officials were instructed to ensure full compliance with the court's directions.
Application Difficulties and Deadline Extension
The original deadline for submitting applications was March 10, 2024. However, numerous parents encountered significant difficulties completing the process after the online system was modified following the court's earlier order. Recognizing these challenges faced by applicants, the court directed the state government to extend the deadline by three days to provide sufficient time for submission.
The government pleader informed the court that the order would be immediately communicated to concerned officials. Later that same day, the school education department issued an official notification extending the deadline by eight days, allowing parents to submit applications until March 18, 2024.
Current Application Statistics
According to official data released by authorities, by Tuesday evening a total of 17,319 online applications had been received for the 7,081 seats available under the RTE quota in Nagpur district alone. This substantial number highlights the critical importance of the admission process and the court's intervention in ensuring fair access to education.
The court's directive represents a significant development in ensuring that the Right to Education Act's provisions are properly implemented and that children's constitutional rights to education are protected without unnecessary bureaucratic restrictions.
