Supreme Court Directs Binding Rules to Enforce 25% EWS Quota in Private Schools

The Supreme Court has directed governments to frame binding rules to enforce the 25% reservation for economically weaker sections (EWS) in private unaided schools under the Right to Education (RTE) Act. The court emphasized that this mandate is a constitutional duty aimed at promoting social equality by integrating children from diverse economic backgrounds in neighbourhood schools. Challenges such as inconsistent implementation, reluctance from schools, and delayed reimbursements were noted, with the court urging earnest enforcement to realize the law’s transformative potential.