At least 35 Class 1 admissions made under the Right to Education (RTE) quota have come under scrutiny in Ahmedabad after four self-financed schools flagged cases where parents’ reported annual incomes were above the prescribed Rs 6 lakh eligibility limit.
The schools have submitted the cases to District Education Officer (DEO) Rohit Chaudhari for verification.
In one case, the parents of a student reported a combined income of Rs 27.16 lakh in their income tax return for 2025-26. The father reported an income of Rs 12.54 lakh, while the mother reported Rs 14.59 lakh. Their child secured admission to Class 1 under the RTE quota.
In another case, the father reported an income of Rs 11.79 lakh along with agricultural income of Rs 7.10 lakh in 2025-26. His son secured an RTE seat for the 2026-27 academic year.
Another student’s parents reported a combined income of Rs 13.54 lakh in their ITR for 2025-26 and secured admission under the RTE quota.
Schools flag possible misuse
The Gujarat education department had raised the annual income eligibility limit for RTE admissions in urban areas from Rs 1.5 lakh to Rs 6 lakh to bring more students under the scheme.
School managements, however, said they are now finding cases involving parents whose reported incomes are substantially higher than the eligibility limit.
Manan Choksi, CEO and Director of Udgam Consultancy, said he had submitted 26 such cases to the DEO for review.
“Every year we get cases of parents who misuse the RTE benefits and we complain to the government. Till we take some punitive action, such frauds will keep happening,” he said, adding that action should be taken if parents have higher incomes reflected in their tax returns.
Academics and school trustees said that although provisions allow an FIR to be registered in such cases, strict action is not always taken and admissions are sometimes cancelled.
Kamal Mangal, trustee of Anand Niketan School, said the school identified six cases during its scrutiny.
“All the scrutinised parents have incomes of Rs 8 lakh, Rs 9 lakh per annum or more, which is above the Rs 6 lakh eligibility limit. We have raised the issue and hope their admissions will not continue under RTE,” he said.
DEO to hold hearings next week
DEO Rohit Chaudhari confirmed that complaints had been received regarding 35 cases and said hearings would be conducted next week.
“After hearing the parents’ side and checking the documents submitted by the schools, we will decide the further course of action,” he said.