After receiving complaints from education activists about schools not complying with Right to Education (RTE) norms (2022-2025), the Maharashtra State Commission for Protection of Child Rights (MSCPCR) has directed education officers in Thane and Nagpur to start an investigation and take necessary action into the matter.
“It is requested that necessary inquiry and action be taken as per the rules regarding the said complaint, and a detailed report on the action should be submitted to the Commission for its perusal within seven days from the receipt of the said letter. It is also requested that care be taken to ensure that the children are not deprived of education,” stated the directive of October 31 from MSCPCR.
mid-day had on October 25 reported that as many as 175 private unaided schools under the Thane Municipal Corporation (data obtained in April 2025) and 255 schools from the Nagpur district (data obtained in October 2025) have continued to run without renewing their RTE approval (Namuma-II), as per a RTI filed by Nitin Dalvi, a member of the Maharashtra Student Teachers’ Parents Federation.
The activist had demanded strict action against such schools, including cancellation of their recognition and even a monetary penalty, as per the RTE Act. The RTE norms set infrastructural and safety standards for the schools, and these institutions are required to renew their RTE approval every three years. The schools need to renew their RTE approval every three years with ‘swamanyata’, the previous slot for which was 2022-2025, said Dalvi.
According to education experts, schools are required to submit data regarding CCTVs, complaint boxes, student security, student transport security, lists of books in the library, Aadhaar validation, lists of teachers working in the school and numbers of students for the last three years, and any disputes or complaints within the institution, among others, to get a renewal.
According to Dalvi, “Schools are also asked to submit their balance sheets and fiscal records while renewing their RTE approvals. Discrepancies in these could be a possible reason why the concerned institutions are avoiding this step.” Commenting on the matter, an official from the Thane education department, said, “We have not received the said complaint yet.”
