Denial of Admission into Schools

No child can be denied admission to a school¹, irrespective of the time in the academic year in which admission is sought. Ideally, all children should be enrolled in school at the beginning of the academic session. However, schools may need to be flexible to allow admission at any time during the session.

Special Training

Children admitted after six months of the beginning of the academic session may be provided Special Training as determined by the Head Teacher of the school to enable him/her to complete studies.² Special Training ensures that out-of-school children are integrated into the school system. Such support will be in the form of residential or nonresidential courses, as needed and such children will continue even beyond 14 years of age to complete elementary education

Prohibition of physical punishment and mental harassment

No child can be subjected to physical punishment or mental harassment at the hands of the school authorities. Physical harassment includes causing physical harm to children by hitting, pulling their hair, slapping, hitting with any object (ruler, chalk) etc. Mental harassment includes mocking the child with regard to his/her background, caste, parental occupation or shaming the child to improve their performance. Individuals may be subjected to disciplinary action under the service rules applicable to them upon subjecting the child to the same.³

Prohibition to expel children 

No child can be expelled from school until they have completed their elementary education.⁴

1. Section 15, The Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009. [↩]
2. Rule 14, The Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Rules, 2010 [↩]
3. Section 17, The Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009. [↩]
4. Section 16(4), The Right Of Children To Free And Compulsory Education (Amendment) Act, 2019. [↩]