HC notice to TN on PIL seeking income ceiling for RTE applicants

Chennai: Madras high court has issued notice to the Tamil Nadu govt on a plea seeking introduction of an income ceiling for admission under the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education (RTE) Act. The law mandates that 25% of seats in private schools be reserved for students from SC, ST and economically disadvantaged communities.

The first bench of Chief Justice Sushrut Arvind Dharmadhikari and Justice G Arul Murugan issued the notices after admitting a public interest writ petition filed by Eeswaran, president of Marumalarchi Makkal Iyakkam, Coimbatore, on Monday.

According to the petitioner, while parents of economically weaker section (EWS) children are subject to an annual income ceiling of Rs 2 lakh for admission under the RTE quota, no such income limit exists for parents of children from SC and ST communities.

The absence of an income ceiling for socially disadvantaged categories allows financially well-off families within these communities to avail themselves of the benefit based solely on caste status, he said.

The petition further pointed out that states such as Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh have already prescribed income ceilings for socially disadvantaged categories. Therefore, he wanted the court to direct the state school education department to consider his representation submitted in Oct 2025 seeking a similar policy in Tamil Nadu.

Admitting the plea, the bench directed the department to file its response in two weeks and adjourned the hearing.