With nearly 75,000 seats potentially available annually under this quota, the bench has scheduled a follow-up hearing for March 10, 2026.

Nearly 75,000 Seats at Stake: Punjab to Implement 25% EWS Quota on HC's 3-Week Ultimatum

The Punjab and Haryana High Court has issued a stern directive to the Punjab government, mandating the immediate implementation of the Right to Education (RTE) Act, 2009. Justice Kuldip Tiwari criticised the state's "lacklustre" approach to providing free education and ordered full compliance within three weeks. This ruling paves the way for a mandatory 25 per cent reservation for children from economically weaker sections (EWS) in all private unaided schools across the state, starting from the 2026-27 academic session.

In response, Education Minister Harjot Singh Bains announced that a dedicated online portal is now ready to facilitate admissions. While the RTE Act was enacted nationwide in 2010, its progress in Punjab was stalled by Rule 7(4), a state-specific regulation that forced EWS students to obtain a "No Objection Certificate" (NOC) from government schools before seeking private enrollment. The High Court previously declared this rule unconstitutional in February 2025, noting that it effectively denied over 11 lakh children their statutory rights over the last decade.

The court's intervention follows a petition highlighting thousands of pending applications and the continued exclusion of eligible students despite previous legal orders. With nearly 75,000 seats potentially available annually under this quota, the bench has scheduled a follow-up hearing for March 10, 2026, to monitor the state’s progress. The move aims to dismantle systemic barriers, ensuring that financial standing no longer dictates a child's access to quality education.

Source: The Tribune