The High Court of Karnataka on Monday dismissed a batch of petitions filed by private schools challenging the government's decision to reserve seats in pre-schools under the Right To Education Act (RTE Act).

The government has made it mandatory for all schools to reserve 25% seats in pre-schools for economically weaker section students in its order dated March 6, 2017. Dismissing the petitions filed by private school managements, Justice S Sujatha ruled that the action of the public instruction department in allotting students — both pre-school and Class I — is legal and within the provisions of the RTE Act.

Ekalavya Awards list

The high court has ordered issue of notice to the state government in a petition filed by Karnataka Powerlifting Association weightlifter Vincent Prakash Carlo challenging the list of Ekalavya awardees for the year 2015.

Justice A S Bopanna issued notices to Secretary (Department of Youth Empowerment and Sports), Chief Secretary and to the Ekalavya Selection Committee-2015.  The association and Carlos have contended that the government flouted its own rules and selected persons who were ineligible for the award. The petitioners contended that the government ignored Carlo though he had more achievements to show than those selected.