The Madras High Court ordered the Central Government to provide detailed information on the funds allocated to Tamil Nadu under the Right to Education (RTE) Act. This directive came during a hearing of a case filed by the Tamil Nadu government, which alleges that the Centre failed to disburse funds for the 25% reservation mandated by the RTE Act from 2021 to 2023.Representing Tamil Nadu, state counsel argued that the Centre had not released any funds during the specified period, compelling the state to bear the entire financial burden. They also contended that the lack of central funding has delayed student admissions under the RTE quota for the current academic year. The state suggested that political considerations might have influenced the Centre’s decision, noting that the ruling party at the Centre has no Members of Parliament from Tamil Nadu.
In response, the Central Government’s counsel stated that funds were withheld due to certain reasons, without providing specific details.
The bench questioned the Centre’s rationale for not allocating funds to Tamil Nadu under the RTE Act and instructed the Union Government to submit comprehensive details of the funds allocated to the state. The court has scheduled the next hearing for May 23.