Karnataka HC directs state and central governments to provide free education to all children between age 6 and 14

Updated on: Wednesday, February 13, 2013

The Karnataka High Court directed the State and the Central governments to provide free and compulsory education to all children aged between six to 14 years.

Justice Hulwadi G Ramesh passed the order on a batch of petitions filed by Sarvodaya Parents Association and others on the hike of fee in unaided private schools in Bangalore.

The court in its order observed the Right to Free and Compulsory Education is not only for the 25 per cent of the selected students under the RTE Act but it is compulsory for all children in the age group of 6-14 under Article 21(A) of the Constitution and the schools cannot oust the children from schools for not paying the fee.

The court said, "It is the responsibility of the state and the central governments to provide free and compulsory education to all children aged 6-14".

The court further directed the school authorities to approach the state government to reimburse the fee of the students who have not paid the fee.

The court stated in its order, "...the private managements to put forth their claim with the state government with regard to the fee structure and recover the same from the government".

The court also directed the education departments of the state and the central governments to hold seminars, giving opportunities to the Teachers' Associations, Parents Associations, ICSE and CBSE Boards "to fix a reasonable fee as a policy decision" and that both the governments shall earmark funds for providing free education.

Karnataka HC directs state and central governments to provide free education to all children between age 6 and 14

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