175 schools in Thane face probe for RTE rule violation

Mumbai: The Maharashtra school education department has ordered a high-level inquiry into private, permanently unaided schools in Thane and Nagpur for allegedly operating from 2022 to 2025 without the mandatory RTE "Form 2" recognition certificate. The probe covers 175 schools in Thane and 255 in Nagpur.

After a formal complaint citing administrative lapses, the department issued a directive on Feb 17 to the education commissioner to verify records and submit a detailed report within eight days, explaining how the schools continued functioning without certification.


Under Section 12(1)(c) of the Right to Free and Compulsory Education (RTE) Act, 2009, private, unaided, non-minority schools must reserve 25% entry-level seats (pre-school or Class 1) for children from economically weaker sections and disadvantaged groups, providing free education up to Class 8 with state reimbursement.

Education activist Nitin Dalvi alleged that delayed renewals enabled 430 schools to admit only general-category students, charge full fees, and bypass their legal and moral obligations.

-Mahiyar Patel