Punjab government failed to implement High Court orders on free education for poor children in private schools : Omkar Nath

Punjab government failed to implement High Court orders on free education for poor children in private schools : Omkar Nath

Over 10 lakh children deprived of education due to non-enforcement of law in the state : Jagmohan Singh Raju

Warning of contempt petitions in Punjab and Haryana High Court if government doesn’t act immediately

Chandigarh 31 July ( Ranjeet Singh Dhaliwal ) : All state governments are legally bound to provide free education to poor children under the Right to Education (RTE) Act, 2009, but the Punjab government has completely failed to implement this law. This was stated by Omkar Nath, Convenor of the RTE Act 2009 Action Committee, Punjab (Retired IAAS), and Jagmohan Singh Raju, Chairman of the K.S. Raju Legal Trust, Chandigarh (Retired IAS), during a press conference held at the Chandigarh Press Club. Omkar Nath mentioned that the Punjab and Haryana High Court had issued orders on 19 February 2025 for the enforcement of this law, but the Punjab government has yet to comply with them. These orders mandated the state to ensure admission of poor children to private schools under Section 12(1)(c) of the RTE Act. Expressing deep concern, he pointed out that more than five months have passed since the High Court order, yet private schools and the Education Department are not complying, depriving thousands of children of their constitutional right to free primary education. Jagmohan Singh Raju stated that although the RTE Act has been in force since 2010, successive governments—be it Akali-BJP, Congress, or AAP—failed to enforce the provision of 25% free admission under Section 12(1)(c), resulting in over 10 lakh children being denied education. He highlighted that the state has openly defied court orders issued in CWP-PIL-185-2024 and CWP-PIL-14-2024, as well as government orders from March 2025. Despite assurances, the Education Department did not issue SOPs regarding eligibility, documentation, reimbursement procedures, or class-wise criteria even by 26 April 2025. Due to bureaucratic apathy, District Education Officers (DEOs) and the Director of Primary Education forward applications without taking any action themselves. Omkar Nath and Jagmohan Singh Raju accused private schools of arbitrarily rejecting poor children's applications, citing lack of clear instructions and financial burden, despite being legally bound by the RTE Act and court orders. They termed this not only a violation of Article 21-A of the Constitution but also contempt of court. They demanded that the Education Department issue SOPs and guidelines within seven days, ensure strict enforcement of admissions for eligible EWS and DG children at the DEO and DC levels, take legal action and cancel recognition of non-compliant private schools, and hold meetings with petitioners, civil society, and parents to formulate an action plan. They also suggested devolving enforcement powers to DEOs and the DPI. Issuing a final warning to the Punjab government, they said if immediate action is not taken, the RTE Act 2009 Action Committee and K.S. Raju Legal Trust will file contempt petitions in the High Court and also approach the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights and the National Human Rights Commission. They further announced a state-wide awareness campaign to highlight the violation of poor children's rights. Omkar Nath and Jagmohan Singh Raju emphasized that this is not just about law, but about the lives and futures of thousands of children. They said the Punjab government is disregarding constitutional duties, judicial orders, and moral responsibility—and they will not stop until every eligible child secures their right to education. Present on the occasion were retired IAS Tilak Raj Sarangal (former Principal Secretary, Punjab Government), Fatehjang Singh (Joint Director, Agriculture, Punjab), Principal Sarbjit Singh, Kirpal Singh (Accounts Officer, CAG Punjab), Desh Raj Paul (Retd. GM), O.P. Chura (Retd. Superintendent Engineer), Bhupinder Singh (Retd. Lecturer), Ram Teerath (AG Audit, Haryana), and Bikram Singh Vikki (Health Department, Chandigarh), among others.