Supreme Court Upholds Right to Education for Economically Weaker Sections

The Supreme Court dismissed a plea against a Bombay High Court order that quashed a Maharashtra government notification. The notification had exempted private schools within a one-kilometre radius of government schools from the 25% quota for economically weaker students. The court emphasized the importance of integrating these students in good schools.

Children from the Economically Weaker Section (EWS) category must attend good schools, the Supreme Court stated, dismissing a plea against the Bombay High Court's order that nullified a Maharashtra government notification.

The notification exempted private schools within one kilometre of government or aided schools from a 25% quota for EWS students. Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud emphasized that interaction among students from different backgrounds is essential for understanding the country's diversity.

The court upheld that government schools cannot compete with private schools and urged that the responsibility of helping less fortunate individuals falls on everyone. The notification was previously declared ultra vires by the high court for contravening constitutional rights and the RTE Act.

Petitioners argued that the notification violated children's right to education and was unconstitutional. Under the RTE Act, private schools must reserve 25% of seats for EWS students, with the government reimbursing their tuition fees.

(With inputs from agencies.)