Overview
- Interpreting Section 12(1)(c) of the RTE Act, the Supreme Court held that neighbourhood private schools are legally bound to reserve at least 25% entry-level seats for children from weaker and disadvantaged sections.
- States and Union Territories were directed to issue binding rules under Section 38 to operationalize the quota, with the court noting that existing NCPCR guidelines are only advisory.
- Operational directions include dedicated portals and helpdesks, advance publication of available seats, defect-correction windows for applications, and clear grievance and dispute-resolution mechanisms.
- The court impleaded NCPCR to monitor nationwide compliance, ordered an affidavit collating state rule-making status by March 31, 2026, and listed the matter for further hearing on April 6, 2026.
- Framing the effort as a national mission to advance equality and fraternity, the bench urged courts to provide swift relief to parents and used a 2016 Maharashtra case to address systemic barriers to RTE admissions.