PIL in Telangana High Court demands transparency in private schools’ accounts

Hyderabad: The Telangana High Court on Thursday admitted a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) seeking the disclosure of income and expenditure statements of private schools in the State, as mandated under the Right to Education (RTE) Act.

A division bench headed by the Chief Justice took note of the statutory requirement and observed that the case would be heard along with other petitions concerning the implementation of the RTE Act.

The PIL, numbered 66 of 2025, was filed by Mallikarjun Patil, represented by advocate Vijay Gopal.

Transparency in school finances is a must

The CJ-headed bench noted that the RTE law requires transparency in school finances. The court stated that the matter will be clubbed with other pending cases relating to the enforcement of the RTE provisions in Telangana.

‘No proper implementation even after 15 years’

In his petition, Patil contended that despite being in force for over 15 years, the RTE Act has not been effectively implemented by the School Education Department. He argued that private schools continue to collect exorbitant fees without accountability.

The petition highlighted that annual fees for kindergarten classes in Hyderabad range between Rs 1.8 lakh and Rs 2.4 lakh, which places a significant financial strain on parents.

‘Disregard of child rights’

Appearing for the petitioner, advocate Vijay Gopal said, “The Right to Education Act obligates all recognised schools to place their statement of accounts in the public domain. The failure of the School Education Department to enforce this provision reflects a disregard for child rights in Telangana.”

He argued that the absence of financial transparency has allowed schools to arbitrarily increase fees, undermining the principles of equitable access to education.

Background on the RTE Act

The Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009, mandates several obligations for schools, including:

• Reservation of 25% seats for children from economically weaker sections in private schools.

• Mandatory public disclosure of accounts to ensure transparency in fee structures.

• Prohibition of capitation fees and screening tests during admissions.

Though the Act came into force nationally in 2010, its enforcement has been inconsistent. In Telangana, parents’ associations and activists have repeatedly raised concerns about fee hikes and lack of accountability from private schools.

Next steps

The High Court’s decision to hear the petition along with similar PILs could pave the way for comprehensive directions on how the State government must ensure compliance with the RTE Act.

The upcoming hearings are expected to examine whether private schools can be directed to publish audited financial statements and what enforcement role the School Education Department should play.