Overview
- The court held that state governments and local authorities must ensure no eligible child is denied admission under Section 12(1)(c), while private unaided neighbourhood schools must reserve at least 25% entry‑level seats.
- Governments were directed to frame binding rules under Section 38 in consultation with NCPCR, state child rights commissions and advisory councils, replacing reliance on non‑binding SOPs.
- Operational norms were issued to remove access barriers, including dedicated portals and in‑person helpdesks, advance publication of seat availability, and dispute redress committees.
- NCPCR was impleaded to collate state and UT compliance, with an affidavit due by March 31, 2026, and the matter listed for further hearing on April 6, 2026.
- Using a 2016 Maharashtra case as the trigger, the bench emphasized that ensuring these admissions is a national mission and kept the case pending to monitor implementation.