Chandigarh, July 3 -- In the absence of clear procedural guidelines from the state government, many private schools across Punjab are refusing admission to children from economically weaker sections (EWS) under the provisions of the Right to Children to Free and Compulsory Education (RTE) Act, 2009.

The denial of admissions in violation of provisions of the RTE Act, which mandates reservation of 25% of seats in Class 1 for children from weaker and disadvantaged backgrounds, has been repeatedly brought to the attention of the state government by social activists and non-government organisations over the past few weeks. The Punjab and Haryana high court, in its order dated February 19, directed all private unaided schools in the state to r...