Exemption for minority institutions from RTE in K'taka

The Karnataka government on Friday decided to exempt religious and linguistic minority institutions from the ambit of Right to Education laws if they have 75 per cent of strength belonging these sections.

The state cabinet at its meeting held took a decision to this on the basis of a Supreme Court ruling, Minister for Primary and Secondary Education Vishweshwara Hegde Kageri told reporters.

To be eligible for exemption, all minority institutions should have majority of students from minority community up to 75 per cent of its strength, he said.

Even such institutions had about 25 per cent of students from other sections, the government would extend the exemption, he said.

The government will soon issue an order in this regard, the said but declined to comment on private educational institutions which have refused to implement RTE saying "it is a separate matter".