neighbourhood and provide free and compulsory elementary education till its completion:
Provided further that where a school specified in clause (n) of section 2 imparts pre-school education, the provisions of clauses (a) to (c) shall apply for admission to such pre-school education.
(2) The school specified in sub-clause (iv) of clause (n) of section 2 providing free and compulsory elementary education as specified in clause (c) of sub-section (1) shall be reimbursed expenditure so incurred by it to the extent of per-child-expenditure incurred by the State, or the actual amount charged from the child, whichever is less, in such manner as may be prescribed:
Provided that such reimbursement shall not exceed per-child-expenditure incurred by a school specified in sub-clause (i) of clause (n) of section 2:
Provided further that where such school is already under obligation to provide free education to a specified number of children on account of it having received any land, building, equipment or other facilities, either free of cost or at a concessional rate, such school shall not be entitled for reimbursement to the extent of such obligation.
(3) Every school shall provide such information as may be required by the appropriate Government or the local authority, as the case may be.
No capitation for and screening procedure for admission. 13. (1) No school or person shall, while admitting a child, collect any capitation fee and subject the child or his or her parents or guardian to any screening procedure.
(2) Any school or person, if in contravention of the provisions of subsection (1),—
- (a) receives capitation fee, shall be punishable with fine which may extend to ten times the capitation fee charged;
- (b) subjects a child to screening procedure, shall be punishable with fine which may extend to twenty-five thousand rupees for the first contravention and fifty thousand rupees for each subsequent contraventions.
Proof of age for admission. 14. (1) For the purposes of admission to elementary education, the age of a child shall be determined on the basis of the birth certificate issued in accordance with the provisions of the Births, Deaths and Marriages Registration Act, 18866 of 1886. or on the basis of such other document, as may be prescribed.
(2) No child shall be denied admission in a school for lack of age proof.
No denial of admission. 15. A child shall be admitted in a school at the commencement of the academic year or within such extended period as may be prescribed:
Provided that no child shall be denied admission if such admission is sought subsequent to the extended period:
Provided further that any child admitted after the extended period shall complete his studies in such manner as may be prescribed by the appropriate Government.
Prohibition of holding back and expulsion.
16. No child admitted in a school shall be held back in any class or expelled from school till the completion of elementary education.
Prohibition of physical punishment and mental harassment to child. 17. (1) No child shall be subjected to physical punishment or mental harassment.
(2) Whoever contravenes the provisions of sub-section (1) shall be liable to disciplinary action under the service rules applicable to such person.
No School to be established without obtaining certificate of recognition. 18. (1) No school, other than a school established, owned or controlled by the appropriate Government or the local authority, shall, after the commencement of this Act, be established or function, without obtaining a certificate of recognition from such authority, by making an application in such form and manner, as may be prescribed.
(2) The authority prescribed under sub-section (1) shall issue the certificate of recognition in such form, within such period, in such manner, and subject to such conditions, as may be prescribed:
