Case of Discrimination Against Scheduled Caste Students in Private Schools: Investigation Teams to Be Formed Soon
Inspection Teams to be Formed Soon for School Visits
Ferozepur,01 July 2025 FACT RECORDER
Punjab Desk: Private schools earning profits by misusing the 5% reserved seats for Scheduled Caste (SC) students under the mandated 25% quota in private institutions will soon be investigated. Defaulter schools will be listed for necessary action.
These remarks were made by Gurpreet Singh Ittanwali, a member of the Punjab State Scheduled Castes Commission.
He stated that as per the Right to Education Act 2009, and the notification issued on December 18, 2010, six categories of beneficiaries were listed, including children from Scheduled Castes. However, from 2009 till the current academic year, recognized schools in Punjab have not admitted even a single child under this SC quota in the 6-14 age group.
Mr. Ittanwali added that for the 2025-26 academic session, admissions were not given under this category as of April 24, 2025, which not only violates children’s rights but also infringes upon their fundamental rights. Moreover, these reserved seats have reportedly been sold to influential individuals, which is a serious offense.
He further said that based on a public interest complaint by petitioner Satnam Singh Gill, the schools violating the law will be identified. Investigation teams will be formed at the departmental level to probe such institutions. The findings will be submitted to the SC Commission in sealed reports by the investigating officers.
He also mentioned that once schools reopen, these investigation teams will begin inspections and tighten oversight around the schools.
Present at the occasion were Mr. Ittanwali’s personal liaison officer Satnam Singh Gill, PA Baba Harjinder Singh Ferozshah, Rajwinder Singh Jodhe, and advocate Jyotipal Bhim from Pathankot.
Photo Caption: Punjab State Scheduled Castes Commission member Gurpreet Singh Ittanwali sharing details, alongside his liaison officer, social activist Rajwinder Singh Jodhe, advocate Jyotipal Bhim from Pathankot, and PA Baba Harjinder Singh from Ferozepur.
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