Court issues notice after Church petitions on RTE Act misuse

The Madhya Pradesh High Court on Wednesday issued notices to the state government seeking its response on a petition filed by the Church on alleged misuse of Right to Education (RTE) Act.

Notices were issued to the Principle Secretary (school education), the Directorate of Public Instructions and the District Education Officer in Bhopal.

A division bench of the MP High Court has given the respondents two weeks to file their replies.

The court's order came in response to a petition filed by the spokesperson of the Catholic Church, MP, Fr Anand Muttungal.

The Catholic Church in the petition challenged a gazette notification issued by the state government on the implementation of RTE Act in the state.

The petition complained that the government was interfering in the administrative matters of Christian institutions, including the admission of students and the fee structure.

Appearing for the petitioner, Advocate James Antony said the state government ignored the rights of minority institutions by interfering in the administration of its schools.

The petitioner informed that the interference was violation of the constitutional safeguards to minority educational institutions guaranteed under Articles 29 and 30. Further, it also affected the quality of educations the institutions were providing, they said.

The petition apprised the direction of the Central government on the implementation of RTE Act. The petition reminded that the RTE Act was made keeping in view of the constitutional safeguards guaranteed to the minorities. Despite the clarifications, Church alleged that the state was using RTE to harass minority institutions.

The Right to Education Act upholds education as a fundamental right for each child between six and 14 years. The Act makes it obligatory for the state governments to ensure that every child gets free elementary education.