The Supreme Court of India has upheld the Bombay High Court’s decision to strike down a Maharashtra government notification that sought to exempt certain private schools from admitting students from the Economically Weaker Section (EWS). The February 9 notification aimed to relieve private schools within a one-kilometre radius of government or aided schools from the requirement to reserve 25 per cent of seats for EWS students.
A bench led by Chief Justice of India (CJI) D.Y. Chandrachud, along with Justices J.B. Pardiwala and Manoj Misra, dismissed the appeal challenging the High Court’s ruling. The Supreme Court emphasized the importance of providing quality education to EWS students, stressing that they should not be excluded from attending good schools. The court underscored that integrating EWS students into these institutions is crucial for fostering a more inclusive society.
The bench put aside the notion that government schools could serve as an adequate substitute for private schools, highlighting that ensuring access to quality education is a shared responsibility. The Supreme Court’s decision reinforces the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009, which mandates that private unaided schools reserve 25 percent of their seats for economically weaker and disadvantaged students.