Allow students to modify choice of school under RTE: Gujarat HC

A division bench headed by Justice Akil Kureshi has said that the Gujarat government needs to provide for change and expansion of choices to students applying for admission under the Right to Education Act (RTE).

The order came in connection with a Public Interest Litigation filed by Sandip Munjyasara, who had sought that students who were yet to be admitted under RTE be allowed to make changes in the school of choice mentioned in the original RTE application form.

The petition has also sought that the number of vacant seats in each school be made available to the students so that they can revise their choice.

The court said in its order that the state needs to publicise the number of seats available and the number of students who are yet to get admission after the first round is over. It also said that this details be made available school wise.

The court clarified that the option to modify and expand their choice of schools will not be available to students who had already accepted the schools assigned and those who had been offered their choice of schools but had chosen not to take admission in the same.

The court, however, said that no changes will be made to admissions this year as the process is more or less complete. Thus, the option of modifying their choice of schools will not be available to students who are left out under RTE this year.

The court observed that since it is already the end of September, if students get admission they would end up attending classes from the second session, which would affect their education.

It also directed the government to ensure that widest publicity be given to ensure that parents and students are aware about the form filling exercise.

It said that they should be encouraged to indicate as many choices of school as possible while filling up the form.The court observed that the guardians of students who apply under RTE are often themselves handicapped by poverty and illiteracy and the state needs to be sensitive about it.

It also did not entertain the government's view that permitting changes in choice even after first round was not possible since the entire system was online. The court observed that it would not be impossible to implement. "It will ensure that more students secure admission under RTE. System must realise that we are dealing with a sensitive issue," said the court.

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