Haryana private schools, Education Department at loggerheads over distance criteria for admissions under RTE Act
Private schools and the Education Department are at loggerheads over the neighbourhood distance criteria for admitting students from economically weaker sections (EWS) under the Right to Education (RTE) Act.
While the Directorate of Elementary Education has warned of action against private schools refusing such admissions, the school associations have accused the education authorities of misinterpreting the distance norms during the allotment of schools to the EWS students.
The Progressive Private Schools Association (PPSA), representing CBSE-affiliated schools in Narnaul and the National Independent Schools Association (NISA), Ambala, have announced plans to approach the High Court over the issue.
“As per the RTE Act, the admissions for the EWS students up to Class V should be made only in those private schools located within a 1 km radius of the child’s residence. Schools between 1 and 3 km are meant for higher classes. However, the primary students are being allotted schools located over 1 km away, which clearly violates the Act,” said Anil Kaushik, president of PPSA.
Kaushik added that his school was allotted some students residing over 2 km away. “When I objected in writing, the department served me a show-cause notice. We won’t bow to the pressure and will fight the matter in court,” he added.
Sunil Dutt, District Education Officer, Narnaul, refuted the allegations, stating that the schools themselves were misinterpreting the RTE guidelines to avoid admitting the EWS students.
“As per the RTE Act, the 1 km distance criterion applies to the establishment of schools, not admissions. For the purpose of admissions, private schools are required to admit the EWS students up to Class V residing within a 3 km radius. Accordingly, the schools are being allotted to eligible students,” claimed Dutt.
Vivek Aggarwal, Director-General (School Education), stated that the RTE rules authorised the department to relax the distance criterion of neighbourhood school to beyond one kilometre for admissions up to Class V. “Therefore, the distance limit has been extended up to 3 km in the interest of the EWS students,” he added.
Kulbhushan Sharma, national president of NISA, said the guidelines were clear, yet officials were enforcing a 3-km limit even for elementary admissions.
Sharma emphasised that the private schools were fully prepared to admit the EWS students, but only in accordance with the legal framework of the RTE Act. “Since our representations to the Education Department have yielded no results, we have no choice but to seek redressal from the High Court,” he claimed.
Echoing similar concerns, Suresh Chander, president of the Haryana Progressive Schools’ Conference, Faridabad, said, “Extending the neighbourhood radius to 3 km for Classes up to V contradicts relevant sections of the RTE Act, which restricts the neighbourhood limit up to one km.”
Meanwhile, the Education Department has issued a directive to all 3,319 private schools across the state, instructing them to comply with guidelines for admission reporting and tracking under the RTE Act.
“11,803 applicants have been allotted to private schools across the state. The admission process began on July 1 and must be completed by July 11. However, several complaints have been received from parents and guardians alleging that some schools are delaying or denying admissions on unjustified grounds such as residential address proof, distance from school, or other reasons not permitted under the RTE Act,” said the letter.
The department warned that if a school rejected admission, it must select a valid reason and update the status on the official portal. “Arbitrary rejections or failure to comply will be taken seriously, with possible action under the RTE Act, including withdrawal of school recognition and other penalties, if necessary,” said the letter.
Haryana Tribune