Indore bench issues notices to Centre and state government over PIL highlighting infrastructure deficit, shortage of teachers and alleged misuse of funds; next hearing on August 17

The Indore bench of the Madhya Pradesh High Court has taken a strict view of the state's ailing education system, issuing notices to the central and state governments on a public interest litigation (PIL) that highlights severe deficiencies in government schools across the state.

The division bench of Justice Subodh Abhyankar and Justice Alok Awasthi, hearing the matter on Wednesday, directed both governments to file their responses by August 17.

The PIL was filed by social worker and advocate B.L. Jain from Sendhwa. Advocate Abhishek Tuganawat, appearing for the petitioner, informed the court that the state's education system is in a deep crisis, with millions of students being denied even the basic facilities guaranteed under the Constitution and the Right to Education Act.

According to the petition, out of the sanctioned 2.89 lakh teaching posts in the state, 1.15 lakh positions remain vacant — nearly 40 per cent of the total sanctioned strength. The situation is so dire that 1,895 schools in the state do not have a single teacher posted.

Citing the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) report for 2025, the petition stated that out of 83,514 schools in the state, approximately 5,000 have dilapidated and unsafe buildings. Around 3,400 schools lack toilet facilities, while nearly 10,000 schools do not have electricity. Boundary walls are missing in 40,000 schools, and thousands of schools do not have access to clean drinking water. Several schools continue to operate in makeshift huts.

The petition further pointed out that more than 59,000 schools in the state do not have computer facilities, even as the government talks about digital education. Over the past decade, the number of students from Class 1 to Class 12 in government schools has declined by more than 22 lakh, even as the state's population has grown — a clear indicator of the declining trust in the government education system.

The petitioner also brought to the court's attention that the Supreme Court, in January 2026, had directed all government and private schools to ensure separate toilets for boys and girls and provide free sanitary pads for girl students. Despite these directives, many schools are yet to comply.

The PIL also raised the issue of alleged misuse of government funds, claiming that adequate expenditure is not being made on basic necessities like education and health, while large amounts are being spent on other heads. Corruption in construction and repair works was also flagged.

The court has sought responses from both governments by August 17, when the matter will be heard next.

\The Chhattisgarh High Court has expressed strong displeasure over the ongoing RTE admission delay in the state, questioning the pace of the process for economically weaker section students. During a recent hearing, the division bench led by the Chief Justice observed that prolonged timelines could severely disrupt the academic calendar for children entitled to free education.

The court made it clear that if admissions continue into July and August, students would lose valuable classroom time, raising concerns over implementation gaps in a key welfare scheme.

Admissions Lag Behind

According to official data presented before the court, a total of 38,438 applications were received under the Right to Education (RTE) Act this academic session. However, only 23,766 applications roughly 62 per cent have been verified so far.

More than 14,000 applications remain pending, with several districts reporting verification rates below 10 per cent. This slow progress has emerged as a major concern in the latest India News Update, highlighting administrative inefficiencies.

Deadline Set by Court

The High Court has now directed the state government to complete the entire admission process before May 7. It has also asked the education department to present a clear and time-bound action plan to ensure compliance.

Officials have been instructed to streamline verification, counselling, and seat allocation processes to prevent further delays. The directive is seen as a significant Government Updates intervention in a public interest issue.

Two-Phase Process Under Scrutiny

The court’s concern stems from the existing two-phase admission structure. The first phase included registration until March 31, followed by lottery-based seat allocation between April 13 and April 17. Selected students are currently expected to complete admissions by May 30.

The second phase, however, is scheduled to begin in June, with final admissions stretching until mid-August. This extended timeline has drawn criticism, as it clashes with the academic session that began on April 1.

Officials Defend Progress

During the hearing, state officials informed the court that 15,000 students had already been allotted seats in the first phase. They maintained that the remaining process would be completed in subsequent rounds as per schedule.

However, the bench found this explanation inadequate, noting that delays defeat the purpose of timely access to education under the RTE framework. Sources indicated that the court expects stricter monitoring mechanisms going forward.

Impact on Students

The RTE admission delay directly affects children from economically weaker sections who depend on timely school access. Experts say that late admissions often lead to learning gaps, social adjustment issues, and higher dropout risks.

This Public Interest Story underscores broader concerns about policy execution, especially when education access is linked to statutory rights. The issue has gained traction as part of Trending News India, reflecting growing public scrutiny.

What Lies Ahead

With the High Court setting a firm deadline, the education department is now under pressure to accelerate the process. The action plan due before May 7 is expected to outline corrective steps, including faster verification and improved coordination between departments.

The coming weeks will be crucial in determining whether the state can meet the court’s directive and minimise disruption to students’ education. As per reports, further hearings may follow to review compliance and ensure accountability in addressing the RTE admission delay.

MP RTE Lottery 2026: 1.22 Lakh Free Seats Up for Grabs in Private Schools

Over 1.78 lakh children registered for free admission under the Right to Education Act; school allotment to go live on the state education portal at 2 PM today.

Lottery Opens Today at 2 PM

Madhya Pradesh is set to conduct its online Right to Education (RTE) lottery this Thursday afternoon, with the draw scheduled to begin at 2 PM. The process will determine free school allotments for children from economically weaker and disadvantaged sections across the state, under the provisions of the RTE Act.

The lottery will be streamed live on the Rajya Shiksha Kendra's official YouTube channel, allowing parents to watch the allocation process in real time.

Over 1.22 Lakh Seats Across 22,000 Schools

This year, approximately 22,000 private unaided schools across Madhya Pradesh are participating in the admission drive, with a total of 1,22,551 seats available under the RTE quota. Against these seats, 1,78,714 children have submitted application forms — making the competition for free placements notably high.

Under the RTE Act, private unaided and special category schools are mandated to reserve at least 25% of their total seats for children from weaker sections, who receive education free of charge.

Check Results on the Portal After 2:15 PM

Once the draw concludes, parents will be able to check allotment status directly on the official RTE portal at rteportal.mp.gov.in from 2:15 PM onwards. The portal will display the name of the school assigned to each child, and parents can also download the allotment letter directly from the site.

The Rajya Shiksha Kendra has confirmed that the entire process has been designed to be transparent and technology-driven, minimising any possibility of irregularities.

SMS Alerts to Registered Mobile Numbers

To ensure parents receive timely updates, allotment information will also be sent via SMS to the mobile number registered during the application process. This step is intended to reduce confusion and help guardians act quickly once results are declared.

Admission Window: April 3 to April 15

Parents of children who receive school allotments in today's lottery will need to visit the respective schools between April 3 and April 15 to complete the admission formalities. Submission of necessary documents within this window is mandatory to confirm the child's seat.

According to officials at the Rajya Shiksha Kendra, families who miss this deadline may risk losing the allotted seat.

25% Quota: A Constitutional Commitment

The RTE Act 2009 provides the foundation for this initiative, declaring education a fundamental right for every child in India. The Madhya Pradesh RTE Rules detail state-specific procedures including admission, verification, government reimbursement to schools, and the responsibilities of parents, schools, and officials.

The state government reimburses private schools for the cost of educating RTE quota students, ensuring that the financial burden does not fall on either the schools or the families. The scheme covers children from nursery through Class 8.

Technology at the Core of a Fair Process

The Rajya Shiksha Kendra has stated that the use of an online, randomised lottery system ensures that no child is unfairly favoured or excluded. The selection procedure is conducted in an open and transparent manner through a draw of lots system, relying solely on individual luck. In instances where the number of applications exceeds the available seats, the lottery system is implemented in accordance with RTE regulations.

As Madhya Pradesh continues to scale up its RTE implementation, today's lottery is expected to bring thousands of children from lower-income households one step closer to quality private school education — without paying a single rupee in fees.