Minority Status and RTE Act: Maharashtra Govt Initiates Detailed Review
The Maharashtra government orders a probe into the alleged misuse of minority status by schools to bypass Right to Education (RTE) norms. Minister Pankaj Bhoyar assures that strict action will be taken if irregularities are found.
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Maharashtra Govt to Probe Alleged Misuse of Minority Status by Schools
Nagpur: Maharashtra’s Minister of State for School Education, Pankaj Bhoyar, has ordered a detailed inquiry into allegations that several schools may have obtained minority status to bypass provisions of the Right to Education Act (RTE).
Minority-run institutions are exempt from the RTE mandate, requiring private schools to allocate 25% of seats to students from economically weaker sections under the free education quota. Concerns have emerged that a significant number of schools could be seeking minority recognition primarily to avoid this obligation and access related benefits.
According to reports, nearly 8,000 schools in Maharashtra have been granted minority status. Questions were also raised over claims that approvals were issued to 75 institutions in a single day. Bhoyar stated that if any irregularities are uncovered during the review process, strict action will be taken regardless of the institution’s scale or influence.
The issue has also drawn attention from the minority commission, and the upcoming probe will assess whether due process was followed while granting minority certification.
In addition, the minister referred to complaints from certain schools alleging that some parents submitted fraudulent documents to secure admissions under the RTE quota. He made it clear that any confirmed misuse by applicants would also attract appropriate legal action. “The primary aim of the RTE framework is to ensure access to quality education for genuinely deserving and underprivileged children,” he said.
Bhoyar further spoke about recent amendments to RTE rules, including the implementation of a one-kilometre neighbourhood eligibility norm. He explained that the revision was introduced after concerns that earlier gaps in the system allowed ineligible candidates to benefit from reserved seats. The updated criteria aim to prioritise students residing closer to the school and ensure that assistance reaches those most in need.
Reaffirming the government’s commitment to accountability and fairness, Bhoyar stated that any institution found to have improperly secured minority status or misapplied its privileges would face firm action.
The inquiry will examine both the approval mechanism for minority recognition and schools’ adherence to RTE regulations to safeguard the law’s intended purpose.
