Bombay High Court (HC) directed the state government Wednesday to reimburse unaided schools for expenses incurred on education of SC/ST students as per RTE Act.
The money Rs 10,463 per student per year till standard 7 or the actual amount spent,whichever less is to be reimbursed irrespective of incomes of parents or guardians of the students from academic year 2010- 2011.
For higher secondary school students,the reimbursment is according to recommendations made by a state-appointed committee in 2010.
For schools in Mumbai,it is Rs 350; for those under other municipal corporations,it is Rs 250 and for the rest of the state,Rs 200.
Schools are also to be reimbursed for OBC,VJNT and SBC students the annual income of whose parents is less than Rs 1 lakh.
HC clarified while RTE Act could not be invoked against the wishes of minority unaided schools,institutions admitting students from disadvantaged sections could claim reimbursement.
A division bench of justices Mohit Shah and N M Jamdar said provisions of RTE Act should be read in the light of articles 21A (right to education) and 46 (promotion of educational and economic interests of weaker sections) of the Constitution.
HC noted though RTE Act applied to elementary education,the state had been giving the benefit of reimbursement to classes 9 and 10 as well.
For all the latest India News, download Indian Express App
