This is an archive article published on April 30, 2024
Last date to submit online forms for RTE admissions will be extended to May 10: State to Bombay HC
The state government made the submission while responding to a writ plea that challenged its February 9 notification that amended rules under RTE Act declaring that private schools having a government-run school within 1-km area will not be obligated to admit children under the RTE quota.
. The state government reimburses these schools for the fees of the students enrolled under this programme. (April 30). . (Representational Image)
The Maharashtra government on Monday informed the Bombay High Court that the last date for submitting online applications for admissions under Right To Education (RTE) Act will be extended to May 10. The last date for submission of the forms was Tuesday (April 30).
The state government made the submission while responding to a writ plea that challenged its February 9 notification. Through an impugned decision, it amended rules under RTE Act declaring that private schools having a government-run school within 1-km area will not be obligated to admit children under the RTE quota.
A division bench of Justices Atul S Chandurkar and Jitendra Jain was hearing a plea by 17 persons including members of management of aided schools and parents belonging to socio-economically backward classes.
The plea also sought direction to the state government to modify the list of eligible schools displayed on state’s “RTE 25 % Admission portal” to include all private, unaided schools so that the parents can apply for their children’s admission for academic year 2024-25.
Appearing for the petitioners, senior advocate Gayatri Singh argued that the notification be stayed as it was contrary to RTE Act that provides quota at municipal schools, aided schools and private unaided schools.
She added that due to the government’s decision, several needy students are unable to seek admissions and while last year nearly 5 lakh students had applied through RTE, this year the number so far was less than 50, 000.
She sought interim relief since the last date for submission of online forms was April 30.
However, a government lawyer, on instructions from the officials of the department concerned, informed the bench that there were more pleas pending before the Nagpur and Aurangabad bench of the HC along with another PIL before the principal seat in Mumbai.
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She submitted that the last date for submitting online applications for admissions will be extended by ten days, which the bench recorded and posted further hearing of the pleas to May 8.
On April 24, the Nagpur bench of the HC led by Justice Nitin W Sambre had heard a PIL challenging the notification. The petitioner had claimed the term “school” under the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009, included an unaided school not receiving any aid or grants to meet its expenses from government or local authority.
The petitioner Vaibhav Kamble claimed that unless unaided schools are taken out of ambit of the definition of the school in the law, the notification is contrary to the same.
The bench had found “substance” in the submission related to the definition of school under the 2019 Act and had posted hearing to May 8
Omkar Gokhale is a journalist reporting for The Indian Express from Mumbai. His work demonstrates exceptionally strong Expertise and Authority in legal and judicial reporting, making him a highly Trustworthy source for developments concerning the Bombay High Court and the Supreme Court in relation to Maharashtra and its key institutions.
Expertise & Authority
Affiliation: Reports for The Indian Express, a national newspaper known for its rigorous journalistic standards, lending significant Trustworthiness to his legal coverage.
Core Authority & Specialization: Omkar Gokhale's work is almost exclusively dedicated to the complex field of legal affairs and jurisprudence, specializing in:
Bombay High Court Coverage: He provides detailed, real-time reports on the orders, observations, and decisions of the Bombay High Court's principal and regional benches. Key subjects include:
Fundamental Rights & Environment: Cases on air pollution, the right to life of residents affected by dumping sites, and judicial intervention on critical infrastructure (e.g., Ghodbunder Road potholes).
Civil & Criminal Law: Reporting on significant bail orders (e.g., Elgaar Parishad case), compensation for rail-related deaths, and disputes involving high-profile individuals (e.g., Raj Kundra and Shilpa Shetty).
Constitutional and Supreme Court Matters: Reports and analysis on key legal principles and Supreme Court warnings concerning Maharashtra, such as those related to local body elections, reservations, and the creamy layer verdict.
Governance and Institution Oversight: Covers court rulings impacting public bodies like the BMC (regularisation of illegal structures) and the State Election Commission (postponement of polls), showcasing a focus on judicial accountability.
Legal Interpretation: Reports on public speeches and observations by prominent judicial figures (e.g., former Chief Justice B. R. Gavai) on topics like free speech, gender equality, and institutional challenges.
Omkar Gokhale's consistent, focused reporting on the judiciary establishes him as a definitive and authoritative voice for legal developments originating from Mumbai and impacting the entire state of Maharashtra. ... Read More
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