Court stalls Right to Free Education rules

By S A Ishaqui

Hyderabad,Nov 30: In a setback to the state government, the Andhra Pradesh High Court on Tuesday stayed a GO issued to implement the much publicised Andhra Pradesh Right to Children to Free and Compulsory Education Rules, 2010.

A division bench comprising the acting Chief Justice, Mr B. Prakash Rao, and Justice V. Suri Appa Rao issued the interim order staying the GO while dealing with a batch of writ petitions challenging the provisions of the Act.

The petitions were filed by the Chaitanya Memorial Educational Society of Kondapur and several others urging the court to declare sections 3, 4, 6, 11 to 15, 17, 23(i), 24(i)(d), 29, 30 of the Act as illegal. They also urged the court to set aside the GO.

The petitioners told the High Court that the government was forcing them to re-register and provide education to 25 per cent of students by accepting fee payable at government schools. According to them the district educational officers had issued notices to various private schools asking them to obtain fresh certificates of recognition from the competent authorities.

The petitioners said this was an infringement of their rights. The bench granted interim orders by suspending the GO and directed the respondents to file counter affidavits.