Nagpur Authorities Launch Inquiry into Minority Status Claims and RTE Exemptions

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The Maharashtra government is probing into the sudden issuance of minority status certificates to 75 schools. This move allows institutions to bypass the Right to Education (RTE) Act requirement of reserving 25% of seats for underprivileged students.

Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis ordered the stay after reports emerged that these approvals were processed within a 48-hour window following the sudden death of Deputy CM Ajit Pawar. This probe aims to figure out whether schools are using the minority tag as a legal loophole to avoid social obligations.

Investigating the Surge in Minority Certifications

Between 28 January 2026 and 2 February 2026, 75 schools got their minority certificates. Before this, no certificates were granted for six months. Some officials worry that schools are only asking for this status to save money and pick their own students.

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State Minister for School Education, Pankaj Bhoyar, explained that minority rights are important, but they should not be used as a "regulatory shield."

As quoted in the Times of India, Bhoyar stated: "Concerns were raised that, barring a small percentage, several institutions may have sought the tag primarily to claim RTE exemptions or other advantages.” He further added, “If any institution is found misusing minority status for undue benefit, action will be taken, irrespective of its size."

How This Impacts Future Admissions and RTE Seats

What happens to the Right to Education (RTE) Act seats if these schools keep their minority status? Children from low-income families bear the brunt of this illegal practice. In the past, similar incidents in Nagpur caused a loss of over 1,000 free seats in just one year. 

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If these 75 schools retain their new status, thousands of seats for underprivileged children will disappear instantly, making it difficult for them to receive a high-quality education.

The investigation will also examine how the paperwork was handled. Some reports from Clarion India say the certificates were signed late at night. This happened during a time when the state was officially in mourning. If the police find that these schools have cheated to receive the status, they could face serious criminal charges. The Supreme Court has also warned schools in the past about misusing this tag to escape their social duties.