The Delhi High Court on April 3, 2026, ruled that the Right to Education Act does not grant parents the right to demand admission to a specific school under the EWS quota. A Division Bench comprising Chief Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyay and Justice Tejas Karia dismissed an appeal from a mother seeking a particular private school for her child. The court stated that while education is a right, choosing a specific institution is not part of that mandate.
Why was the petition rejected by the Court?
The child was initially selected for a private school through the computerized draw of lots managed by the Directorate of Education. When that school failed to provide admission, the authorities offered a seat in another school which was nearby and also on the parents’ list of preferences. The Bench observed that the mother refused this alternative and insisted on the original school. The court found no reason to interfere with the previous Single Judge order as the government had already provided a viable option.
Key highlights of the Delhi High Court observation
- The Right to Education Act aims for social inclusion and equal opportunity for all children.
- Parents cannot use the EWS quota to compel admission into a school of their personal choice.
- The Directorate of Education fulfilled its duty by offering an alternative seat in a similar category school.
- The ruling clarifies that the state’s responsibility is to provide access to education, not specific preferences.
- The Division Bench upheld the earlier decision, finding the parent’s refusal of the alternative school unjustified.
