Pune RTE admissions came under scrutiny at the Pune Zilla Parishad general body meeting after members alleged irregularities in the process and questioned why taluka-wise admission data had not been provided by the education department. Chief executive officer Gajanan Patil told the meeting that scrutiny of 10% of RTE admission cases was under way.
The issue was raised by Vijay Shinde, group leader of the Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) faction, who alleged that information requested from the education department was not being shared. Shinde sought details of the number of admissions completed in each taluka and demanded an inquiry and action against officials allegedly involved in irregularities.
According to the discussion, officials had said that the information was available on the RTE portal. Shinde, however, said the data was not actually accessible in the required form. Patil said the RTE admission process was being conducted online at the state level.
The exchange also raised questions about the role of the Pune Zilla Parishad and local authorities in monitoring RTE admissions. Vice-president Vivek Walase Patil said the process did not provide a direct benefit to the Zilla Parishad or local schools, prompting discussion over whether the district body should take responsibility for overseeing it.
Other members argued that the Zilla Parishad could not treat the issue as separate from its responsibilities because it concerned students’ education. The debate placed administrative accountability and access to admission-related information at the centre of the meeting.
Shinde further told the house that he had an audio recording in which officials from the education department were allegedly accused of taking money from a parent. He demanded action against the officials concerned. The report did not identify the officials or establish whether any payment had been made.
In response, Patil asked Shinde to file a complaint with the Anti-Corruption Bureau if the names of the officials were available. The chief executive officer’s statement directed the allegation towards the formal anti-corruption process rather than confirming it as an established finding.
Members also expressed dissatisfaction with the functioning of the education department and demanded that the education committee chairperson be given sufficient powers to take decisions. Zilla Parishad president Veerdhaval Jagdale said the education committee chairperson already had powers and that action would be taken in accordance with those powers.
The immediate administrative steps disclosed at the meeting are the scrutiny of 10% of RTE admission cases and possible complaints to the Anti-Corruption Bureau where specific officials are identified. The meeting did not establish the number of affected students, the talukas involved or whether any admission had been cancelled.
