SC notice to Centre on 25% reservation for poor children

The Supreme Court issued notices to the Centre on a petition challenging the government notification directing all educational institutions to provide 25% reservation to the economically backward children in the age group of six to 14 years.

According to the petitioner, an association of private unaided educational institutions, the government notification, which is a part of the Right To Education Act, is violative of the constitution bench judgement of this court. It had ruled that these institutions can be run without interference by the state.

The government has introduced Article 21 A in the Constitution, making Right to Education an integral part of the fundamental right to life.

The petitioners have also contended that the government notification has not taken into consideration the category of three to six years, who are the most impressionable class of children.

A bench comprising Chief Justice K G Balakrishnan and Justice Deepak Verma decided to seek the response of the Union HRD Ministry on the issue after hearing the counsel for the petitioner.

UNI