Mon Sep 01 16:22:43 UTC 2025: Here’s a summary of the text and a rewrite as a news article:
**Summary:**
The Supreme Court of India has referred the question of whether minority educational institutions should be entirely exempt from the Right to Education (RTE) Act of 2009 to a larger bench. A two-judge bench expressed concerns that a previous 2014 judgment, which exempted these institutions to protect their autonomy, is being misused and undermining the goals of universal elementary education, inclusivity, and national development. The current bench believes that the exemption is leading to the fragmentation of the education system and creating “enclaves of privilege.”
**News Article:**
**Supreme Court Reconsiders Exemption of Minority Institutions from Right to Education Act**
**NEW DELHI (September 1, 2025)** – The Supreme Court of India has ignited a crucial debate over the scope of the Right to Education (RTE) Act, referring to a larger bench the question of whether minority educational institutions should be entirely exempt from its provisions. The move comes amidst growing concerns that the current exemption is being exploited and undermining the nation’s goals of inclusive and universal education.
A two-judge bench, comprising Justices Dipankar Datta and Manmohan, voiced strong reservations about the implications of a 2014 Constitution Bench verdict in the Pramati Educational and Cultural Trust case. That ruling had exempted minority institutions from Section 12(1)(c) of the RTE Act, which mandates a 25% reservation for disadvantaged children, citing the need to protect their minority character and institutional autonomy.
In their judgment on Monday, Justice Datta, writing for the bench, argued that the 2014 ruling has “unknowingly jeopardised the very foundation of universal elementary education.” The bench suggested that exempting these institutions is leading to fragmentation within the education system and weakening the ideal of inclusivity that Article 21A aims to realize.
“Minority status seems to have become a vehicle for circumventing the mandate of the RTE Act… it has opened up a situation whereby multiple institutions have sought to acquire minority status to become autonomous,” Justice Datta observed.
The bench further warned against creating “enclaves of privilege” at the expense of national development goals, emphasizing the need for a unified education system that promotes shared learning and social cohesion.
The referral to a larger bench signals the Supreme Court’s intention to re-examine the delicate balance between protecting the rights of minority institutions and ensuring equitable access to education for all children in India. The outcome of this review could have significant implications for the future of education policy and the pursuit of a truly inclusive society.
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