Contempt petition filed in Madras High Court against Tamil Nadu Government for failing to start RTE admissions
Marumalarchi Makkal Iyakkam president V. Eswaran has filed a contempt petition in the Madras High Court against the Tamil Nadu government for not commencing admissions under the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education (RTE) Act for the academic year 2025–26, despite a recent High Court order.
The High Court directed the State government on June 10 to reimburse private schools for RTE admissions and observed that non-receipt of funds from the Centre cannot be used as a reason to delay its statutory obligation. The court also asked the Union Ministry of Education to consider delinking the RTE component from issues related to the National Education Policy.
Following the ruling, School Education Minister Anbil Mahesh Poyyamozhi recently said the State would approach the Supreme Court by filing a Special Leave Petition (SLP) over the order. In response, Mr. Eswaran said he had filed a caveat petition in the Supreme Court to ensure the matter was not decided without hearing his side.
He said the continued delay in opening the RTE admission portal had prompted the contempt plea. 'The State cannot keep six lakh underprivileged children waiting while it decides whether or not to follow a court order,' he said.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
39 minutes ago
- Time of India
Post-CAA stir and pandemic lull, uptick in student clashes at Jamia
New Delhi: After a relatively quiet period following the 2019 anti-CAA protests and the lull caused by the pandemic, Jamia Millia Islamia (JMI) has seen a sharp rise in student clashes, with 42 incidents reported in two years – 2023 and 2024 -- reveals an RTI query. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now In comparison, the university saw no clashes in 2020 and 2021. Between Jan 2019 and Dec 2024, a total of 55 student clashes were reported. In 2019, the year that saw the university become a focal point of the nationwide agitation against CAA, six incidents were reported. JMI students held sustained protests, with police entering the campus library on Dec 15, sparking outrage across the country. In the following two years, during Covid and the lockdown, no incidents were recorded. While 2022 saw seven incidents, there were 22 reported clashes in 2023 and 20 in 2024. According to the RTI data, the nature of recent incidents is broadly described as "altercations", mostly taking place on the main campus. In 2023, 10 such clashes occurred between Jan and May. The trend continued in 2024, with 11 incidents reported between Jan and July. While the RTI response does not elaborate on the causes of each incident, the records confirm they were officially registered by university authorities. The rise in clashes has been accompanied by a marked increase in disciplinary measures. The number of students who faced action jumped from 17 in 2019 to 47 in 2022, 105 in 2023, and 74 in 2024 — a total of 243 students over four years. The actions ranged from warnings and show-cause notices to suspensions and campus bans. In 2023, Jamia issued 71 show-cause notices, asked 21 students to sign good conduct bonds and banned three from campus. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now In 2024, 56 students were issued show-cause, eight put on good conduct bonds, four suspended, and one was banned from the campus. No disciplinary action was taken in 2020 and 2021, the years in which no clashes were reported. Police were involved twice — in 2019 and 2024 — to "restore order and ensure safety", according to the university. Over the six-year period, five FIRs were registered in connection with the altercations — one in 2019 and four in 2024. The FIRs were filed under sections relating to 'causing hurt', though the university declined to disclose specific provisions, citing Section 8(1)(h) of RTI Act, which exempts details that could impede an investigation. Jamia also stated that details on whether any students were detained or arrested were "not available". Between 2019 and 2024, Jamia collected a total of Rs 27,000 in fines. This includes Rs 7,000 in 2019; Rs 4,000 in 2022; Rs 12,500 in 2023; and Rs 3,500 in 2024. No fines were collected in 2020 or 2021. The university's RTI reply does not specify if the clashes were linked to political groups or factions active on campus. Jamia has not held students' union elections since 2006, though student collectives and informal groupings continue to exist. While the RTI data confirms a clear uptick in student unrest on Jamia's campus post-2022 compared to the pandemic years, the university has largely relied on internal disciplinary mechanisms to address the clashes. With fines remaining symbolic and police action minimal, the data reflects a cautious administrative approach.
The Hindu
39 minutes ago
- The Hindu
Brazil's ex-leader Jair Bolsonaro rallies supporters in Sao Paulo to protest his Supreme Court trial
Former Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro on Sunday (June 30, 2025) attended a public demonstration in Sao Paulo to protest against his ongoing Supreme Court trial in the South American country. A couple of thousand people gathered on Paulista Avenue, one of the city's main locations, in a demonstration that Mr. Bolsonaro, before the event, called 'an act for freedom, for justice". Mr. Bolsonaro and 33 allies are facing trial over an alleged plot to overturn the 2022 Presidential election results and remain in power. They were charged with five counts related to the plan. The former President has denied the allegations and claims that he's the target of political persecution. He could face up to 12 years in prison if convicted. 'Bolsonaro, come back!' protesters chanted, but the former president is barred from running for office until 2030. Brazil's Superior Electoral Court ruled last year that he abused his political power and made baseless claims about the country's electronic voting system.
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
Renting, a nightmare for trans people in Pune city
Pune: Kadambari Shaikh has a story of triumph like no other. When the trans woman and social activist moved from her family home in Sadashiv Peth to rent a flat in Hadapsar in the late 2000s, she was harassed, abused and driven out. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now "I was medically transitioning at the time. Landlords asked me to dress like a man and avoid wearing a sari if I wanted a house. My neighbours would often harass me and pass crude comments," she said. Fast-forward to today — "In 2020, I bought a house in the society that had once rejected me, and am now its secretary and committee member," Shaikh said. "I had to fight every step of the way. Now I try to help others, so they don't go through what I did." Shaikh's full-circle moment of joy is a rare exception. In the city's rapidly expanding skyline of gated societies and highrises, some citizens live an uncomfortable and scared life as they are often denied something as basic as a roof over their heads. Despite the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act, 2019, which prohibits discrimination in housing, education and employment, and Articles 14, 15, 16 and 21 of the Indian Constitution, which provide protection against any discrimination in society, enforcement remains weak and awareness still patchy. Activists estimate that Pune has about 6,000 individuals who fall under the broad umbrella of LGBTQIA+, which includes lesbians, gays, bisexuals, trans people and all other individuals who identify as a part of the queer community. For most of them, especially transgender people, the right to rent a home remains a distant dream. Many housing societies enforce unwritten codes that outrightly exclude transgender people. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now As the world celebrated the month of Pride, Nikhilshwari Dhawade (20), a third-year student at a college in the city, was forced to vacate her rented flat in Pashan on June 9, a few days after moving in. The landlord's daughter told her, "I cannot allow people like you to live here." When the young trans woman refused to leave, explaining her legal right to live there, the landlord's family assaulted her and confined her in a room. "The landlord's daughter, her husband and her daughter punched me, slapped me and pulled my hair," Dhawade said. Such violence, deeply ingrained biases and the fear of being unable to be their authentic selves drive many young transpeople to the slums. "Many in the transgender community have no choice but to live in slums, where they often find greater acceptance and solidarity," Shaikh said, while admitting that she was able to buy a house only after she found her footing by training as a professional makeup artist. This not only empowered her financially but also gave her social capital. Anil Ukarande, the founder of Yutak Trust — an organisation that works for LGBTQIA+ people — pointed out that despite being a hub for IT and education, and attracting students and professionals from all over, Pune still poses significant challenges for the transgender community. "Even if they get flats on rent, many are often forced to hide their identity, go back into the closet, and live a dual life. They are forced to find a place in slums because there, at least, they find some acceptance, even if they must compromise on their living standards," Ukarande said. The situation is no better for transmen. Thirty-two-year-old Arush Kusalkar moved to a slum area near Shivajinagar after repeated discrimination during his medical and social transition phases. "As my body was developing masculine features and feminine features were still noticeable at that stage, the owner would subject me to unfair treatment. Landlords would make me pay an excessively high deposit and inflate the rent," Kusalkar said. Sportsperson Milan Labade has been living in Pune for six years. She recalled that she once had to move houses three times in a single month — from Kondhwa to Vimannagar to Hadapsar — because the landlords changed their minds soon after she moved in. Labade, whose PhD focused on the economical conditions of transgender individuals and is currently working at the Centre for Youth Development (CYDA), eventually had to seek solace in a slum. "I was uncomfortable living in slums. However, due to the difficulty of finding suitable housing, I had no choice but to live there temporarily," the trans woman said. For most trans people, the targeted harassment begins even before they find a house that they like as they first must deal with brokers. But real estate brokers in the city claim it's a mindset problem, with most owners worried that letting in a transperson would affect their standing in society. Sachin Soni, a broker from Old Sangvi, said, "At least 70% of societies or flatowners deny houses to a transgender person. I have been working in the field for 25 years and this is a harsh reality. It is all about mindset. Transgender people are also God's creation like us. They are good people." Mohit Jain, another broker who has been operating in western Pune areas for about seven to eight years, said he has never been successful in finding a rented accommodation for a trans person. "Unfortunately, most property owners only allow families, which limits my ability to help." Change can only begin if homeowners evolve and get over such regressive attitudes, another broker said. The archaic worry of "what will people think?" is the thought that rules the mind of many homeowners. "As a human being, I understand that trans people are just like us, and I'm comfortable with them," said Rekha Chitrode, who owns a flat in Pimpri Chinchwad. "However, as a property owner, it's challenging to rent to them due to societal pressure and stigma. People in the community might view it negatively, impacting the reputation of my building and deterring other potential tenants," she said, Susi P, a trans woman working in the city, said, "What is the point in humanity advancing technologically and reaching for the space, if people on Earth are still denied basic rights. Housing is not a favour; it is a fundamental human right." --------------------------- Even when transgender individuals manage to secure housing, they frequently encounter hostility and exclusion. Many landlords reject us outright to 'protect the image' of the society. It is absurdly unjust to discriminate based on appearances. Gender is visible. That's what makes us a target. It's not enough to say the law protects us if society doesn't — Manasvi Goilkar | Trans woman, social activist & founding member, Shikhandi Trust Pune: Kadambari Shaikh has a story of triumph like no other. When the trans woman and social activist moved from her family home in Sadashiv Peth to rent a flat in Hadapsar in the late 2000s, she was harassed, abused and driven out. "I was medically transitioning at the time. Landlords asked me to dress like a man and avoid wearing a sari if I wanted a house. My neighbours would often harass me and pass crude comments," she said. Fast-forward to today — "In 2020, I bought a house in the society that had once rejected me, and am now its secretary and committee member," Shaikh said. "I had to fight every step of the way. Now I try to help others, so they don't go through what I did." Shaikh's full-circle moment of joy is a rare exception. In the city's rapidly expanding skyline of gated societies and highrises, some citizens live an uncomfortable and scared life as they are often denied something as basic as a roof over their heads. Despite the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act, 2019, which prohibits discrimination in housing, education and employment, and Articles 14, 15, 16 and 21 of the Indian Constitution, which provide protection against any discrimination in society, enforcement remains weak and awareness still patchy. Activists estimate that Pune has about 6,000 individuals who fall under the broad umbrella of LGBTQIA+, which includes lesbians, gays, bisexuals, trans people and all other individuals who identify as a part of the queer community. For most of them, especially transgender people, the right to rent a home remains a distant dream. Many housing societies enforce unwritten codes that outrightly exclude transgender people. As the world celebrated the month of Pride, Nikhilshwari Dhawade (20), a third-year student at a college in the city, was forced to vacate her rented flat in Pashan on June 9, a few days after moving in. The landlord's daughter told her, "I cannot allow people like you to live here." When the young trans woman refused to leave, explaining her legal right to live there, the landlord's family assaulted her and confined her in a room. "The landlord's daughter, her husband and her daughter punched me, slapped me and pulled my hair," Dhawade said. Such violence, deeply ingrained biases and the fear of being unable to be their authentic selves drive many young transpeople to the slums. "Many in the transgender community have no choice but to live in slums, where they often find greater acceptance and solidarity," Shaikh said, while admitting that she was able to buy a house only after she found her footing by training as a professional makeup artist. This not only empowered her financially but also gave her social capital. Anil Ukarande, the founder of Yutak Trust — an organisation that works for LGBTQIA+ people — pointed out that despite being a hub for IT and education, and attracting students and professionals from all over, Pune still poses significant challenges for the transgender community. "Even if they get flats on rent, many are often forced to hide their identity, go back into the closet, and live a dual life. They are forced to find a place in slums because there, at least, they find some acceptance, even if they must compromise on their living standards," Ukarande said. The situation is no better for transmen. Thirty-two-year-old Arush Kusalkar moved to a slum area near Shivajinagar after repeated discrimination during his medical and social transition phases. "As my body was developing masculine features and feminine features were still noticeable at that stage, the owner would subject me to unfair treatment. Landlords would make me pay an excessively high deposit and inflate the rent," Kusalkar said. Sportsperson Milan Labade has been living in Pune for six years. She recalled that she once had to move houses three times in a single month — from Kondhwa to Vimannagar to Hadapsar — because the landlords changed their minds soon after she moved in. Labade, whose PhD focused on the economical conditions of transgender individuals and is currently working at the Centre for Youth Development (CYDA), eventually had to seek solace in a slum. "I was uncomfortable living in slums. However, due to the difficulty of finding suitable housing, I had no choice but to live there temporarily," the trans woman said. For most trans people, the targeted harassment begins even before they find a house that they like as they first must deal with brokers. But real estate brokers in the city claim it's a mindset problem, with most owners worried that letting in a transperson would affect their standing in society. Sachin Soni, a broker from Old Sangvi, said, "At least 70% of societies or flatowners deny houses to a transgender person. I have been working in the field for 25 years and this is a harsh reality. It is all about mindset. Transgender people are also God's creation like us. They are good people." Mohit Jain, another broker who has been operating in western Pune areas for about seven to eight years, said he has never been successful in finding a rented accommodation for a trans person. "Unfortunately, most property owners only allow families, which limits my ability to help." Change can only begin if homeowners evolve and get over such regressive attitudes, another broker said. The archaic worry of "what will people think?" is the thought that rules the mind of many homeowners. "As a human being, I understand that trans people are just like us, and I'm comfortable with them," said Rekha Chitrode, who owns a flat in Pimpri Chinchwad. "However, as a property owner, it's challenging to rent to them due to societal pressure and stigma. People in the community might view it negatively, impacting the reputation of my building and deterring other potential tenants," she said, Susi P, a trans woman working in the city, said, "What is the point in humanity advancing technologically and reaching for the space, if people on Earth are still denied basic rights. Housing is not a favour; it is a fundamental human right." --------------------------- Even when transgender individuals manage to secure housing, they frequently encounter hostility and exclusion. Many landlords reject us outright to 'protect the image' of the society. It is absurdly unjust to discriminate based on appearances. Gender is visible. That's what makes us a target. It's not enough to say the law protects us if society doesn't — Manasvi Goilkar | Trans woman, social activist & founding member, Shikhandi Trust
