The Allahabad High Court has ordered the Uttar Pradesh state government to submit a detailed, school-by-school dataset covering the past five years of student admissions under the Right to Education (RTE) Act. The mandate requires full disclosure on all applications from eligible children that were turned down or left unaddressed by educational institutions across the state.
Mandatory Report on Denied Admissions and Capitation Fee Complaints
Presiding over a writ petition, Justice Vinod Diwakar instructed state legal counsel to file a comprehensive affidavit by September 15, the date set for the next hearing. Beyond basic admission numbers, the court required the government to present records of complaints regarding illegal collection of capitation fees or the implementation of unauthorized screening procedures that violate state education guidelines. The submission must also outline what regulatory actions were taken in response to those grievances.
The judicial order originated from a petition brought by St John’s School, Babhanauti, Pachwal. During proceedings, the court noted reports alleging that multiple state-recognized private institutions showed reluctance to enroll eligible students and waive standard tuition or administrative fees.
Justice Diwakar clarified that the court was not reaching any conclusions regarding the allegations at this stage. He noted that the requested affidavit is intended solely to establish an accurate assessment of RTE implementation across Uttar Pradesh, adding that no institution would face adverse administrative measures without prior legal notice and procedural fairness.
Cooperation Enforced Across School Boards
To assemble the state-wide data, the high court ordered private schools affiliated with the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE), the Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations (CISCE), and other recognized boards to cooperate with local authorities. Schools must work alongside the District Inspector of Schools and the Basic Shiksha Adhikari to supply all historical admission information required.
Legal Framework and RTE Compliance
The directive aligns with earlier rulings by the high court confirming that private schools operating in Uttar Pradesh under national boards such as CBSE or ICSE are not exempt from the provisions of the Right to Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act of 2009. Enacted under Article 21A of the Indian Constitution, the law guarantees free and compulsory education to all children between the ages of six and 14.
