HC sets one week deadline to state govt to file counter to a petition challenging RTE GO

Chennai:

Madras High court has ordered the state government to file a counter within a week after a petition challenged the Government Order issued by School Education Department for filling up 25 per cent seats as per the Right to Education Act.

 Acting Chief Justice Satish K Agnihotri and Justice M M Sundresh passed the order after hearing the petition filed by A Narayanan which challenged the GO issued on April 1, 2013 stating that it only gives seven days time for the parents, who are underprivileged and uneducated, to receive, fill up and submit the forms to the concerned schools for availing the RTE quota.

The petitioner stated that because of the impugned order, 69 per cent of eligible children in Tamil Nadu lost their opportunity to avail the constitutional provision of studying in unaided schools across the state in the academic year 2013-14.

The petitioner cited the example of Karnataka which has given more than one month for parents to submit applications to fill up the RTE quota of 25 per cent.

Stating that there is urgency in the hearing and adjudication of the petition as the next academic year is around the corner, the petitioner urged the court for an interim direction to the state government to direct the concerned authorities and school managements including CBSE to not fill up the reserved 25 per cent seats under the RTE Act with other candidates not covered by RTE act till the issue is decided by the High court.

“As a last opportunity, one week time is granted to the state to file the counter,” the judges observed