Haryana: The Haryana Education Department has issued a strict directive to private unaided schools across the state, instructing them to ensure timely and transparent admissions under the Right to Education (RTE) Act, 2009 for children from Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) and disadvantaged groups. The order comes in response to rising complaints about delays, procedural complications, and alleged violations in implementing the mandatory 25% reservation for entry-level classes such as pre-nursery and Class 1.
Officials stated that schools must complete admissions for students selected under the ongoing 2026–27 RTE admission cycle strictly within the prescribed government deadlines. They added that institutions cannot refuse admission without legitimate and rule-based reasons, and any unjustified rejection or delay in confirming seats will be considered a violation of the RTE Act and may result in strict action.
The move follows reports from several districts, including Gurugram, where parents alleged that certain private schools were slow in updating admission records, verifying documents, and confirming seats, even after allotment through the official centralized lottery system. Education authorities warned that such delays weaken the constitutional goal of ensuring equal educational access for children from economically weaker backgrounds.
Under Section 12(1)(c) of the RTE Act, 2009, all recognised private unaided schools are required to reserve 25% of entry-level seats for EWS and disadvantaged category students. Admissions are conducted through a centralised online lottery system managed by the state education department, which allocates seats based on eligibility criteria and neighbourhood guidelines.
For the 2026–27 academic session, parents applied through the state’s official admission portal, submitting documents such as income certificates, residence proof, and identity records. After the lottery results were declared, selected students were required to report to their allotted schools within a fixed timeframe for document verification and final admission confirmation.
Officials confirmed that schools must upload real-time admission status updates on the state education portal, clearly indicating whether a student has been admitted or rejected. In case of rejection, schools are required to provide written justification limited to valid RTE-defined reasons, such as ineligibility or incomplete documentation. Any deviation from these rules will be treated as a serious violation.
To improve compliance, the education department has strengthened monitoring through district-level education officers, who have been assigned the responsibility of ensuring that schools follow RTE rules, avoid bypassing reservation norms, and address grievances raised by parents. Schools will remain under continuous monitoring throughout the admission process.
A formal grievance redressal system has also been activated to support parents facing difficulties. Complaints will first be reviewed at the district level, and unresolved cases will be escalated to higher education authorities for final resolution. Officials said this system is intended to improve transparency and accountability in the admission process.
The department has cautioned that strict action, including penalties and regulatory measures under state education laws, will be taken against schools found violating RTE provisions. Authorities reiterated that compliance with the 25% EWS reservation requirement is mandatory and non-negotiable for all private institutions.
Despite repeated enforcement efforts in previous years, Haryana has continued to face implementation challenges, including delays in seat confirmations, incomplete data uploads, and disputes over document verification, particularly in urban regions where demand for private schooling remains high.
Officials said the latest directive reflects the government’s renewed effort to strengthen accountability and enforcement in RTE admissions, ensuring that eligible children are not denied access due to administrative delays or institutional resistance. The current admission cycle will remain under close supervision until all RTE seats are fully verified and filled according to official norms.
