New Delhi, Feb. 20 -- The Maharashtra government said on Thursday that it will inquire into allegations of some schools misusing minority status to secure exemptions under the Right to Education (RTE) Act and avail related benefits.

Minority institutions are not mandated to reserve 25% seats under the free category. Recent reports suggested that nearly 8,000 schools in Maharashtra have been granted minority status, with permissions 75 schools getting the grant in a single day.

Barring a small percentage, several institutions, Pankaj Bhoyar, Minister of State (school education) said, may have sought the tag primarily to claim RTE exemptions or other advantages, according to a Times of India (TOI) report.

"The chairman of the minority co...