Intensifying its stance against schools violating the Right to Education (RTE) Act, the Maharashtra State Commission for Protection of Child Rights (MSCPCR) has written to the deputy director of school education, Mumbai, and state education commissioner demanding a district-wise list of schools run by municipal corporations, zilla parishads and the state government running without RTE recognition. The commission has also asked the education officials to scrutinise the safety audits of these schools, which are mandatory under the  Act.

Following a complaint by a city-based NGO, MSCPCR first wrote to Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) education officers in May this year, seeking a report on action taken against schools operating without RTE approval and flouting norms. After receiving no response, the commission sent another reminder to the BMC education officer on June 28. Now the commission chairperson Susieben Shah has directed the education officials to enumerate all private schools running without RTE approval in Maharashtra to ensure safety-related checks of students studying in such schools.