GUWAHATI: The Gauhati High Court has issued a stern directive to Assam's Education Department officials to ensure the effective implementation of the Right to Education (RTE) Act, disregarding the feeble excuses put forth by private schools in Guwahati.
The court's order came in response to submissions made by counsel representing the Education Department, who highlighted the reasons cited by private schools for the delay in admitting students under the Act.
Chief Justice (CJ) Sandeep Mehta and Justice Arun Dev Choudhury, presiding over the bench, firmly dismissed the excuses presented by the private schools.
CJ Mehta emphasised, "These are lame excuses... do not simply follow directions blindly; apply your mind."
The hearing, which took place on May 29, revolved around a public interest litigation (PIL) petition that sought to address the proper implementation of the RTE Act.
During the proceedings, the petitioner's counsel reportedly presented status reports concerning pending admissions and refund of fees. It was revealed that four private schools in Guwahati had continued to violate the RTE Act by either denying admission to eligible students or charging them fees despite the provisions of the Act.
The court has scheduled the next hearing for Thursday, June 1, where the matter will be further addressed.
In previous hearings, CJ Mehta had expressed his disappointment, stating that it was shameful that the High Court had to repeatedly intervene in this matter. The court had also expressed strong objection to South Point School for charging fees from students admitted under the RTE Act, hinting at the possibility of derecognition if the allegations were found to be true.
The petitioner organisation was represented by advocates Anita Verma and Sudakshina Khanikar.
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