Bengaluru: The Karnataka High Court has granted an interim stay on the execution of a circular issued by the education department extending the benefits of the Right to Education Act to classes 9 and 10 for students belonging to SC/ST category.Justice Ashok S Kinagi passed the order Friday, after hearing a petition filed by Associated Managements of Primary and Secondary Schools Karnataka and others.Observing that the matter required consideration, the judge also ordered a notice to the state govt while fixing July 3 as the next date of hearing.Through the May 21 circular, the govt issued directions to all schools across the state to allow children belonging to the ‘disadvantaged group’ — SC/ST category — who completed eighth class in the academic year 2025-26 to continue in the same institution under the Act.Fee, if any, received by the schools from a child belonging to SC/ST category, for continuing study in classes 9 and 10, will be reimbursed. The issuance of a transfer certificate of such a child having completed eighth class in 2025-26 will not come in the way of seeking readmission in the same school, the circular stated.Challenging the same, the petitioners argued that the circular is not just in contravention of Right of Children to Free & Compulsory Education Act but is also without the authority of law.According to them, the constitutional mandate on free and compulsory education for all children in the age of 6-14 years cannot be expanded to students in classes 9 and 10.There is non-application of mind on the part of the authorities in issuing the circular, the petitioners added, while seeking intervention of the High Court in the matter.
