The Haryana directorate of elementary education has issued a directive to all private schools in the state to finalize admissions under the Right to Education (RTE) quota for the 2026-27 academic session. Schools have been warned against denying admission to eligible children without providing justified reasons.
Admission Timeline and Lottery Results
Admissions for children selected through the online RTE lottery, which was conducted on April 29, must be completed between April 30 and May 9, as per the department's notification. This initiative is part of the state government's effort to ensure that children from economically weaker sections (EWS) and disadvantaged groups (DG) secure admission under the 25% reservation mandated by the RTE Act.
Officials stated that selected students must report to their allotted schools within 10 days of the lottery result. If parents fail to complete the admission process within the deadline, the allotted seat will be automatically canceled. Schools have been instructed to carefully verify all required documents, including proof of age, residence, and category certificates.
Grounds for Rejection and Verification
The department has made it clear that admissions cannot be rejected on arbitrary grounds. Rejection will only be permitted in cases where families fail to provide valid documents or, for EWS applicants, if the annual family income exceeds Rs 1.8 lakh. Authorities have clarified that there is no income limit for students applying under the disadvantaged group category.
School-level committees have been tasked with verifying whether students fall within the prescribed neighborhood limits of 0-1 km or 1-3 km from the school. The state government will reimburse fees only for children admitted within the three-kilometer limit. A clarification issued earlier by the department stated that schools admitting children from beyond this radius would not receive reimbursement from the government.
Online Portal and Grievance Redressal
Officials announced that a dedicated online portal will become operational from May 5, where schools must upload the status of every allotted student, including accepted and rejected cases. Any rejection beyond the approved reasons will be reviewed by block-level monitoring committees.
The department has also activated a multi-level grievance redressal system for parents facing difficulties during the admission process. Complaints can first be taken to block-level committees, followed by district-level appellate committees headed by education officials. The Joint Director (Controlling Private School Officer) will serve as the final authority in unresolved disputes.
Background of RTE Act
The Right to Education Act guarantees free and compulsory education to children between the ages of 6 and 14 years. Under the law, private schools are required to reserve 25% of seats at the entry level for children from weaker and disadvantaged sections. Every year, thousands of families in Haryana apply for admission through the online RTE portal, making the process highly significant for low-income households seeking access to private education.
