908-WP 13045.2026 with companion matters of PCMC,Pune.doc Kavita S.J. IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY CIVIL APPELLATE JURISDICTION WRIT PETITION NO.13045 OF 2026 Podar Education Trust Through its Trustees, Pavankumar Podar and Mangal Prasad Vishwanath Dixit and Anr. ...Petitioners Versus The Principal Secretary, School Education and Sports Department & Ors. ...Respondents WITH WRIT PETITION NO.13107 OF 2026 WITH WRIT PETITION NO.13106 OF 2026 ---------- Mr. Aditya Mehta a/w Mr. Shriraj Dhruv, Ms. Keya Reval, Ms. Jahnavi Pandey and Ms. Ashraya Baid i/b Dhru and Co. for Petitioners in all Petitions. Ms. Savina R. Crasto, AGP for Respondent Nos. 1 to 4 & 7 in WP/13045/2026. Ms. Priyanka B. Chavan, AGP for Respondent Nos. 1 to 4 & 7 in WP/13107/2026. Mr. A. K. Naik, AGP for Respondent Nos. 1 to 4 & & in WP/13106/2026. Mr. P. H. Gaikwad a/w Mr. S. V. Gavan for Respondent Nos. 5 & 6 in all Writ Petitions. 1/6 KAVITA SUSHIL JADHAV Digitally signed by KAVITA SUSHIL JADHAV Date: 2026.10.16 15:42:58 +0530 908-WP 13045.2026 with companion matters of PCMC,Pune.doc CORAM : R.I. CHAGLA AND FIRDOSH P. POONIWALLA, JJ. DATE : 14TH OCTOBER, 2026. ORDER: 1. Rule. Rule made returnable forthwith. Heard finally by consent of the parties. 2. By the present Writ Petitions, the Petitioners – Schools have sought for reimbursement of fees of their students admitted under the 25% quota in terms of the provisions of Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009 (“RTE Act”). 3. Heard the learned Counsel appearing for the parties. We have perused the prior orders passed by this Court, including order in City International Institution, Kothrud Vs. The State of Maharashtra and Ors.1, where similar relief had been sought and directions have been issued by this Court. Accordingly, in the present Writ Petitions, we pass the following order.:- 1 WP 10361 of 2026, Order dated 20th August, 2026 2/6 908-WP 13045.2026 with companion matters of PCMC,Pune.doc i. Notwithstanding the Petitioners – Schools having submitted its representations to Respondent No.6 – Administrative Officer, Education Department, Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC), together with the statement of actual dues for which reimbursement has been sought, the Petitioners – Schools shall address a fresh communication in the prescribed format annexing the supporting documents, which are relied upon for claiming reimbursement of their dues within a period of one week from today i.e., on or before 21st October, 2026 to Respondent No.5 – Zilla Parishad, Pune and Respondent No.6. ii. Respondent Nos.5 & 6 shall upon receipt of such communication, within a period of one week therefrom i.e., on or before 28th October, 2026 call upon the Petitioners – Schools to comply with the remaining requisitions, if any. This shall be complied with by the Petitioners – Schools within a period of one week thereafter i.e., on or before 4th 3/6 908-WP 13045.2026 with companion matters of PCMC,Pune.doc November, 2026. iii. Respondent Nos.5 & 6 shall then forward their recommendations to Respondent Nos.1 to 4 and 7 – State on the Petitioners – Schools’ proposal within a period of two weeks therefrom i.e., on or before 18th November, 2026. iv. Respondent Nos.1 to 4 and 7 – State shall upon receipt of the recommendations of Respondent Nos.5 & 6 determine the eligibility as well as the quantum of reimbursement due and payable, within a period of seven weeks thereafter i.e., on or before 6th January, 2027. v. The admissible amount shall thereafter be released by Respondent Nos.1 to 4 and 7 – State to Respondent No.5 within a period of two weeks from such determination i.e., on or before 20th January, 2027. vi. Respondent No.5 in turn, shall release such amount to the Petitioners – Schools within a 4/6 908-WP 13045.2026 with companion matters of PCMC,Pune.doc period of one week from the receipt of the said amount i.e., on or before 27th January, 2027. vii. In the event the Petitioners – Schools is held to be not entitled for any amount of reimbursement, a reasoned order to that effect shall be passed and the Petitioners – Schools shall then be at liberty to seek redressal of its grievances, if any, in accordance with law. viii. The aforesaid timelines have been prescribed after taking into account the submissions made by the Respondents and the period sought by them for such compliance. Accordingly, the timelines shall be strictly followed. ix. The Writ Petitions are disposed of in terms of the aforesaid order. There shall be no order as to costs. 4. Place the Writ Petitions on 27th January, 2027 under the caption “For Compliance”. If by then, the directions given in this order have not been complied with, the concerned Officers of 5/6 908-WP 13045.2026 with companion matters of PCMC,Pune.doc Respondent Nos.1 to 4 and 7 – State and Respondent Nos.5 & 6, respectively, shall remain present in Court to explain the reason for such non-compliance on their part. [ FIRDOSH P. POONIWALLA, J. ] [ R.I. CHAGLA, J.] 6/6