Proof of age for admission
Section 14 of the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009 deals with proof of age for admission. 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, 1886 (6 of 1886) or on the basis of such other document, as may be prescr The Act came into force on 01 Apr 2010.
(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, 1886 (6 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.
Section 14, The Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009 (Act 35 of 2009).
Cross-references
Extracted from the operative text of the enactments themselves. Every destination below exists in our corpus.
Referred to by 1
Related judgements & precedents
These are some judgments that construed this section, and hold precedence value. They hold authority on how to read, interpret and use this section.
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Society for Un-aided P. School of Raj vs U. O. I
Court's Decision & Legal Precedent
The majority held that the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act 2009 is constitutionally valid and applies to: (i) government schools; (ii) aided schools including aided minority schools; (iii) schools belonging to specified categories; and (iv) unaided non-minority schools. However, Section 12(1)(c) mandating 25% reservation and Section 18(3) regarding transfer of de-recognized students infringe the fundamental freedom guaranteed to unaided minority schools under Article 30(1) of the Constitution and therefore do not apply to such schools. For unaided non-minority schools, Section 12(1)(c) imposing 25% reservation is a reasonable restriction under Article 19(6) because: (1) education is a charitable activity in nature; (2) removing financial barriers that prevent children from accessing education is in the interest of general public; (3) T.M.A. Pai Foundation recognized that States may require unaided institutions to admit small percentage of weaker sections through conditions of recognition; (4) Section 12(2) provides reimbursement; (5) the provision balances the right to establish educational institutions under Article 19(1)(g) with the right of children to education under Article 21A; and (6) the context of elementary education for strengthening social fabric of democracy differs from professional education. The Act is applied prospectively from academic year 2012-13 with principle of severability preserving applicability to other categories of schools.
On this section: Age proof requirements, late admission, prohibition on holding back and expulsion - held as directory in nature with flexibility in application
The holding above is the ratio decidendi as extracted from the judgment by eCourts India, reproduced unaltered — it is a rendering of the court's reasoning, not a substitute for its words. Read the order itself before relying on it.
Made under this section, and citing it
1 instrument names this provision in its title or its text without being made under it.
Questions about Section 14
What have the courts held on Section 14 of the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act?
Society for Un-aided P. School of Raj vs U. O. I (12 Apr 2012) is the leading judgment on this section among those set out below: Age proof requirements, late admission, prohibition on holding back and expulsion - held as directory in nature with flexibility in application.
How do I find court cases under Section 14 of the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act?
In judgments and charge sheets this section is written several ways, and each form finds a different set of orders. These search the full text of every order eCourtsIndia holds, best matches first: RTE Act 14, section 14 RTE Act, section 14 of the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act. People searching for it also type right of children to free and compulsory education from 6 to 14 years. Each opens the full list of orders on eCourtsIndia, where it can be narrowed by court, year and outcome. 1 reported judgment on this section is set out on this page, beginning with Society for Un-aided P. School of Raj vs U. O. I (12 Apr 2012).
What should I read with Section 14 of the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, and has it changed?
1 other provision in this corpus refers back to it. One instrument names it without being made under it, most recently The Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education, Himachal Pradesh Rules, 2011 (2011).
When did Section 14 of the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act come into force?
Section 14 of the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, cited as RTE Act 14, came into force on 01 Apr 2010, having been enacted on 26 Aug 2009. It is in force as at the date shown on this page.
Other sections of this Act
Source and method. Compiled from the enactments of Parliament and of the State legislatures as published on India Code, and republished together with commentary and other original matter under section 52(1)(q)(ii) of the Copyright Act, 1957. Structured, cross-referenced and maintained by eCourtsIndia. Text as in force on 15 Oct 2026. This page is not a substitute for legal advice.