The document outlines the importance of the right to education in India, referencing the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and various constitutional articles. It discusses the evolution of education as a fundamental right, the amendments made to enshrine this right, and the Supreme Court's validation of the Right to Education Act. The conclusion emphasizes the necessity of education for societal development and the empowerment of future generations.

1. Presented at Biz & Legis
(as a part of Internship)
by
Soundararajan.R
Symbiosis Law School-NOIDA
SIU, Pune
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2. Universally Accepted
 Article 26 of 1948 Universal declaration of human
rights - “Everyone has the right to education”
 Directive principles of State policy under Article 45
(by then)
 Not enforceable and justifiable.
 Is there any justification for the right to education?
 Are there minimum guidelines for the right to
education?
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3. Stepping Stone
 Dadabhai Naoroji and Jyothiba Phule were
pioneers who demanded free education in India.
 Education is a fundamental human right and
essential for the exercise of all other human rights. It
promotes individual freedom and empowerment
and yields important development benefits.
 The first regulation on compulsory education -
introduced by the State of Baroda (now Gujarat) in
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4. Transformation..
 Free and Compulsory Education made its way
into the Constitution as a Directive Principle
of State Policy under former Article 45.
 States were required to ensure the provision
of Free and Compulsory Education to all
children till the age of fourteen years within a
period of ten years of the commencement of
the Constitution.
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5. Amendments made…
 Article 21–A (education for children in the age
group of six to fourteen years)
 {Former} Article 45
 Article 51–A (k) (fundamental duty on parents)
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6. After amendments
 Article 21-A : The State shall provide free and
Compulsory education to all children of the age of
six to fourteen years in such a manner as the State
may, by Law, determine.
 Art. 45: The State shall endeavour to provide early
childhood care and education for all children until
they complete the age of six years
 Art. 51 A (k): who is a parent or guardian to provide
opportunities for education to his child or, as the
case may be, ward between the age of six and
fourteen years.".
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7. Constitutional Validity
 Came into force on April 1, 2010
 The Supreme Court in Society for Un-aided Private
Schools of Rajasthan v. U.O.I. & Anr. upheld the
constitutional validity of the Right to Education
Act, 2009, which mandates 25% free seats to the
poor in government and private unaided schools
uniformly across the country. Chief Justice S.H.
Kapadia said the act will apply uniformly to
government and unaided private schools except
unaided private minority schools.
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8. Highlights
 Section 3(2) inter alia provides that no child shall
be liable to pay any kind of fee or charges or
expenses which may prevent him or her from
pursuing and completing the elementary
education.
 The other purpose of enacting Section 3(2) is to
prevent educational institutions charging
capitation fees resulting in creation of a financial
barrier which prevents a child from accessing or
exercising its right to education which is now
provided for vide Article 21A
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9.  25% of seats in private schools for weaker
sections.
 A fixed student-teacher ratio should be
maintained.
 Commissions' to keep a check on schools
 The Schedule – provides basic norms and
forms for effective implementation of the
Act.
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10. Judicial pronouncements
 In Ashoka KumarThakur v. Union of India;
observed that without Article 21A the other
fundamental rights are rendered meaningless.
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11.  In Miss. Mohini Jain v. State of Karnataka and
Ors,
"right to education" u/art. 45 of the
Constitution a reality, the fundamental rights
under Chapter III shall remain beyond the
reach of the large majorities which are
illiterate. The State is under an obligation to
make an endeavor to provide educational
facilities at all levels to its citizens”.
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12.  In Unni Krishnan, J.P. and Others v. State of
Andhra Pradesh and Ors,
“The right to education is contained in as
many as three Articles in Part IV, viz., Articles
41, 45 and 46, which shows the importance
attached to it by the founding- fathers. The
right to compulsory and free education up to
the age of14 years is a fundamental right of
every child”.
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13. Affecting factors
 Locality
 Poverty
 Early Marriage
 Health issues (malnutrition)
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14. Obligation
 Social face of India is poor and dark. A healthy;
happy and educated population is the basic
components and indicators of development and
progress of a nation.
The State is under obligation to provide
education facilities at affordable cost to all
citizens of the country. Private institutes (then)
are not under any such obligation and they are
running the education institutes purely as
commercial monetary profit earning activity.
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15. Conclusion
 Every generation looks up to the next generation
with the hope that they will build up a nation
better than the present.
 Therefore, education which empowers the future
generation should always be the main concern
for any nation.
 It is the Sign of freedom, a controlling grace, and
basis of successful life. Education is not a
preparation for life; education is life in itself.
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16. Writer can be reached at : nellai94@gmail.com
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