What’s wrong with seats for poor: SC

The Supreme Court on Thursday observed there was nothing wrong in the government’s attempt to provide 25% in private institutions for the economically weaker section.

The Supreme Court on Thursday observed there was nothing wrong in the government’s attempt to provide 25% in private institutions for the economically weaker section.

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During the hearing on a batch of petitions challenging the Right to Education (RTE) Act, a bench headed by Chief Justice SH Kapadia verbally told the senior counsel for an institution that such bodies should not have any complaint as such a reservation was an investment for the country’s future prosperity.

The bench, however, told the advocate it would strike down the legislation if private schools are able to establish that Constitutional principles have been violated by enactment of the Act under which free and compulsory education had been made mandatory for all children in the age group of 6-14 years.

It posed several questions to the private schools’ counsel to ascertain how the law violated their rights. “What is wrong in 25% having better education in private schools. Today you are making an investment for the country. Children are the future of the country. Can the court intervene and say it is unreasonable?” the bench asked.