New Delhi: The Supreme Court has called for a fresh look at the exemption given to minority-run schools under the Right to Education (RTE) Act, observing that the 2014 Constitution Bench ruling shielding such institutions appears contrary to the spirit of the law. A bench of Justices Dipankar Datta and Manmohan urged the Chief Justice of India to consider referring the issue to a larger bench, noting that minority status is often misused to bypass education standards.
The court clarified that applying RTE would not dilute constitutional rights under Article 30, but stressed the importance of ensuring quality education. It also directed that teachers in government and aided schools must clear the Teacher Eligibility Test (TET) to remain in service or get promotions, with exemptions only for those nearing retirement.
The key question now is whether these requirements should extend to minority schools, raising the possibility of a landmark judicial rethink on education rights in India.
