Gurugram, May 2, 2026 — The Haryana Education Department has issued a strict warning to private unaided schools across the state, directing them to ensure timely and transparent admissions under the Right to Education (RTE) Act, 2009 for children belonging to Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) and disadvantaged groups. The advisory has been issued amid increasing complaints of delays, procedural hurdles, and alleged non-compliance in implementing the mandatory 25% reservation for entry-level classes, including pre-nursery and Class 1.
Officials said schools have been instructed to complete admissions for students selected under the ongoing 2026–27 RTE admission cycle within the government-prescribed timelines. The department has also made it clear that institutions cannot reject applications without valid, rule-based reasons, and any arbitrary denial or unnecessary delay in confirming seats will be treated as non-compliance under the provisions of the RTE Act and may invite strict action.
The directive comes after reports from districts including Gurugram, where parents alleged that several private schools were slow in updating admission records, verifying documents, and confirming seats, even after students were allotted admission through the official centralized lottery system. Education authorities said such delays risk undermining the constitutional mandate of equal educational opportunities 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 centralized online lottery system, operated by the state education department, which allocates seats based on eligibility criteria and neighbourhood norms.
For the 2026–27 academic session, parents were required to apply through the state’s official admission portal, submitting documents such as income certificates, residence proof, and identity records. Once the lottery results are declared, selected students must report to their allotted schools within a fixed timeframe for document verification and final admission confirmation.
Officials confirmed that schools are mandated to upload admission status updates on the state education portal, clearly indicating whether a child has been admitted or rejected. In cases of rejection, schools must provide documented justification strictly limited to RTE-defined reasons such as ineligibility or incomplete documentation. Any deviation from these rules will be treated as a violation of RTE norms.
To strengthen compliance, the education department has intensified monitoring through district-level education officers, who have been tasked with ensuring that schools strictly follow RTE guidelines, do not bypass reservation requirements, and resolve parent grievances related to admissions. Schools are now under continuous administrative scrutiny during the admission cycle.
A structured grievance redressal mechanism has also been activated to assist parents facing difficulties. Complaints can be first addressed at the district level, while unresolved cases will be escalated to higher education authorities for final review. Officials said this system is designed to ensure accountability and transparency in the admission process.
The department has warned 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 rule is mandatory and non-negotiable for private institutions.
Despite repeated enforcement measures in previous years, Haryana has continued to face challenges in implementing RTE admissions, including delayed seat confirmations, incomplete data uploads, and disputes over document verification, particularly in urban areas where demand for private schooling is high.
Officials said the latest directive reflects the government’s renewed push to strengthen accountability in RTE admissions and ensure that eligible children are not denied access due to administrative delays or institutional resistance. The current admission cycle will remain under close monitoring until all RTE seats are verified and filled in accordance with official rules.
