Haryana’s Private Schools Face Fines for Withholding EWS Vacancies under RTE Act

Chandigarh (Haryana), September 14, 2025

Over 2,800 private schools in Haryana are facing penalties ranging between ₹30,000 to ₹70,000 for failing to declare vacancies for students from Economically Weaker Sections (EWS), in violation of the Right to Education (RTE) Act. The Haryana Directorate of Elementary Education has ordered district officials to issue notices to these schools. The issue has been brewing for prior sessions. Private school administrators argue that technical glitches in the government’s portal, lack of clarity in guidelines, and delayed reimbursements are among the reasons they have not properly declared EWS vacancies. They also assert that absence of timely financial support from the state has strained their ability to admit EWS students without incurring losses. On the government side, authorities maintain that the portal is fully functional and any laxity in compliance is unacceptable under the law. Education officials insist that non-compliance undermines equal access to education and that enforcement is necessary. The difference in the fee structures of these private schools determines the quantum of fines. Higher-fee institutions potentially face steeper penalties subject to hearings. Some schools have also pointed out that they continue to admit EWS students, but delays in processing documentation or verification have made the process cumbersome. They call for administrative simplification, clearer timelines, and assurance that reimbursement or subsidies from the government will be more prompt. Parents and civil society groups have expressed frustration. Many EWS-category students remain on waiting lists, with seats unfilled even as private schools report high fees. For many families, the promise of free or subsidised education under RTE has not translated into tangible access. The state government is expected to follow up with audits of private schools, verification of claims on both sides, and possibly expansion of grievance redress mechanisms. Critics warn that if this persists, it can deepen educational inequity and have sociopolitical consequences in Haryana’s already contested educational landscape.