Shahin Akhtar
On 11th September 2025, the Jammu and Kashmir High Court has closed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) that had been pending for five years regarding the implementation of the Right to Education (RTE) Act in the Union Territory. The decision came after the Government assured the court that the necessary rules had been drafted and placed in the public domain for feedback.
The petition, filed in 2020, had seen several directions from the court over the years, pushing the authorities to put the RTE Act into practice. On September 10, 2025, the School Education Department submitted that a reconstituted committee had prepared a detailed draft of the RTE Rules. The draft, according to the department, reflects the objectives of the RTE Act while taking into account the unique educational challenges and infrastructure needs of J&K.
The Government explained that the committee met on August 5, 2025, and decided to release the draft rules for public consultation. Following this, a notice was issued on August 20, 2025, and the draft was uploaded on the official website of the School Education Department, inviting objections and suggestions from all stakeholders. A month’s time was given for public input.
When the matter was heard by Chief Justice Arun Palli and Justice Rajnesh Oswal, the Government’s counsel assured that the draft would be finalized within a month of the consultation period. The court was also informed that all remaining formalities would be completed without unnecessary delay.
Taking note of this assurance, the counsel for the petitioner agreed that the PIL could be closed but requested that liberty be granted to approach the court again if the Government failed to act. Accepting this request, the Division Bench disposed of the petition while allowing the petitioner to file a fresh case if there was inaction or if new issues emerged.
Case Name: Young Lawyers Forum v. Union Territory of J&K and Anr.
Case No. WP(C) PIL No. 8/2022
Bench: Chief Justice Arun Palli and Justice Rajnesh Oswal
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