The Madras High Court on Thursday directed the Tamil Nadu government to respond within a week to a petition challenging the delay in commencing admissions under the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education (RTE) Act, 2009, in private schools.

Under the Act, private unaided schools are required to reserve 25 per cent of entry-level seats for children from economically weaker sections and provide them with free education. The online application process for RTE admissions, which typically begins in April, has not yet started this year.

V. Eswaran, president of the Marumalarchi Makkal Iyakkam, filed the writ petition seeking the immediate commencement of the admission process.

“Typically, the RTE admission process concludes by May 20 each year. All schools in Tamil Nadu are scheduled for reopening on June 2. The Tamil Nadu government has completely neglected its responsibility to ensure the educational rights of lakhs of poor children as mandated by law. No steps have been taken so far regarding the admission process. Therefore, we have filed a petition in the Madras High Court demanding immediate initiation of RTE admissions,” Mr. Eswaran said.

Hearing the petition, Justice G.R. Swaminathan directed the State government to file its response within a week.