Supreme Court seeks Centre, Punjab response on plea over failure to implement 25% RTE quota

📌 Summary:

• The Supreme Court (Bench of CJI Surya Kant and Justice V. Mohana) sought responses from the Centre and Punjab on a plea alleging non-implementation of the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009 in Punjab
• The plea specifically targets Section 12(1)(c), which mandates private unaided schools to reserve 25% of entry-level seats for children from weaker sections and disadvantaged groups
• The petitioner, who runs an NGO and appeared in person, was asked by the Bench whether a survey had been conducted to substantiate the allegations
• The case revives the long-standing concern that the 25% EWS quota remains poorly enforced across several States due to weak monitoring, delayed State reimbursement to schools, and lack of awareness among eligible families

🎯 UPSC Relevance: GS2 (Governance & Social Justice) — implementation gaps in welfare/education legislation and the judiciary's role in enforcing socio-economic rights

📝 Prelims Facts:

• RTE Act, 2009 operationalises Article 21A (free and compulsory education for ages 6-14), inserted by the 86th Constitutional Amendment Act, 2002
• Section 12(1)(c) mandates 25% reservation in entry-level classes of private unaided schools for disadvantaged groups, with State reimbursement
• The plea was heard by a Bench headed by CJI Surya Kant

🔑 Key Term: Section 12(1)(c), RTE Act — the provision requiring private unaided schools to admit 25% of children from economically weaker sections and disadvantaged groups at the entry level