CHANDIGARH: The Punjab and Haryana High Court has issued a notice to the Punjab Govt on a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) seeking a CBI investigation into Rule 7(4) of the Punjab RTE Rules which allegedly allowed private schools to bypass the mandatory 25% quota for children from economically weaker sections (EWS) under the Right to Education Act, 2009.
Filed by Dr. Jagmohan Singh Raju (IAS Retd.), Chairman of K.S. Raju Legal Trust, the petition terms Rule 7(4) “unconstitutional and corrupt, ” asserting that it was deliberately framed to safeguard private schools’ revenue interests while depriving thousands of disadvantaged children of their statutory right to free education. The bench of Chief Justice Sheel Nagu and Justice Sanjiv Berry has directed the Punjab Govt to submit its reply by September 22, 2025.
The petition contends that for over 15 years, private schools evaded penalties for non-compliance, resulting in significant financial losses to the state exchequer. It further alleges that the rule fostered an institutionalised arrangement that shielded schools from fines and statutory action. Emphasizing that state agencies may have a conflict of interest, the plea seeks an independent CBI probe. It also requests immediate admissions for children aged 7 to 13 who missed entry-level enrollment in previous years because of the rule.
Earlier this year, PIL filed by Dr. Raju, the High Court struck down Rule 7(4) and ordered private schools to implement the 25% EWS quota from the 2025–26 academic session. The current petition aims to ensure accountability, transparency and investigation into how such a rule was permitted to operate unchecked for more than. The Petitioner also urged the Court to compensate the children aged 7 to 13 who could net get admissions in private schools because of Rule 7(4) and permit their admission in private schools now.