Now Reading: Bombay HC asks state to review RTE refund process
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Bombay HC asks state to review RTE refund process
Bombay high court has asked Maharashtra to review the reimbursement mechanism for private unaided schools that admit poor children under the Right to Education (RTE) Act. The court noted that 133 writ…
The Story in Brief
Bombay high court has asked Maharashtra to review the reimbursement mechanism for private unaided schools that admit poor children under the Right to Education (RTE) Act. The court noted that 133 writ petitions were filed between January and August this year over delayed payments.
Three schools sought contempt action after the state failed to release over Rs 3.6 crore due since the 2018-19 academic year despite a March order. The judges said there is no timeline for processing claims and the current reimbursement of Rs 17,690 per child has not been revised since 2016-17.
The Indian Opinion
The state's sluggishness in paying schools undermines the RTE Act's goal of ensuring education for all. Schools that comply with the 25% quota end up footing the bill for years, which is unsustainable. The narrative often paints private schools as profiteering, but here they are bearing a burden that rightly belongs to the government. The court's call for a committee with school representatives is sensible. The real test will be if the state sets a clear, short deadline for reimbursements and revises the per-child amount to reflect inflation.
Source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com
This story was synthesised by AI from the source linked above.
