910-wp-9328-2026.doc jsn IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY CIVIL APPELLATE JURISDICTION WRIT PETITION NO.9328 OF 2026 Radhika Shikshan Santha’s Radhika English Medium School …Petitioner Versus The State of Maharashtra & Ors. …Respondents ---------- Mr. Rayyan Shah, Mr. Devanand Bhosale with Mr. Satyajeet Borade i/b. Mr. Vaibhav D. Kadam for the Petitioner. V.M. Mali, AGP for the Respondent Nos.1, 2, 4 and 7 - State. ---------- CORAM : R.I. CHAGLA AND FIRDOSH P. POONIWALLA, JJ. DATE : 3RD SEPTEMBER, 2026. O R D E R:- 1. Pursuant to the Order dated 27th August 2026, the Petitioner has joined the State of Maharashtra, through Additional Chief Secretary, Finance Department, Mantralaya, Mumbai, as Respondent No.7 in this Writ Petition. The learned Counsel appears for the said Respondent. 2. Rule. Rule made returnable forthwith. Heard finally by 1 JITENDRA SHANKAR NIJASURE Digitally signed by JITENDRA SHANKAR NIJASURE Date: 2026.09.05 11:06:38 +0530 910-wp-9328-2026.doc consent of the parties. 3. By the present Writ Petition, the Petitioner - School has 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”). 4. Heard the learned Counsel appearing for the parties. We have perused the prior Orders passed by this Court, including the Order dated 20th August 2026 passed in City International School Kothrud Vs. The State of Maharashtra and Others, Writ Petition No.10361 of 2026, 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.:- i) Notwithstanding the Petitioner - School has submitted representation to Respondent Nos.4 and 5 - Zilla Parishad, Nashik, the Petitioner – School shall address a fresh communication in the prescribed format, annexing the supporting documents which are relied upon for claiming 2 910-wp-9328-2026.doc reimbursement of their dues within a period of one week from today viz., on or before 10th September 2026, to Zilla Parishad, Nashik. (ii) Zilla Parishad, Nashik shall, upon receipt of the communication from the Petitioner - School, within a period of one week therefrom viz., on or before 17th September 2026, call upon the Petitioner – School to comply with the requisite communication, if any. This shall be complied with by the Petitioner – School within a period of one week thereafter viz., on or before 24th September 2026. (iii) Zilla Parishad, Nashik shall then forward their recommendation to Respondent – State on the Petitioner – School’s proposal within a period of two weeks therefrom viz., on or before 8th October 2026. (iv.) Respondent – State shall upon receipt of the recommendation of Zilla Parishad, Nashik determine the eligibility as well as the quantum of reimbursement due and 3 910-wp-9328-2026.doc payable, within a period of seven weeks thereafter viz., on or before 26th November 2026. (v.) The admissible amount shall thereafter be released by Respondent - State to Zilla Parishad, Nashik within a period of two weeks from such determination viz., on or before 10th December 2026. (vi.) Zilla Parishad, Nashik in turn, shall release such amount to the Petitioner – School within a period of one week from the receipt of the said amount viz., on or before 17th December 2026. (vii.) In the event the Petitioner – School is held to be not entitled for any amount of reimbursement, a reasoned order to that effect shall be passed and the Petitioner – School shall then be at liberty to seek redressal of their grievances, if any, in accordance with law. (viii) The aforesaid timelines have been prescribed after 4 910-wp-9328-2026.doc taking into account the submissions made by the Respondents and the appropriate period has been granted to them for such compliance. Accordingly, the timelines shall be strictly followed. (ix.) The present Writ Petition is disposed of in terms of the aforesaid order. There shall be no order as to costs. 5. Place the present Writ Petition on 18th December 2026 under the caption “For Compliance”. If, by then, the directions given in this Order have not been complied with, the concerned Officers of Respondent – State and Zilla Parishad, Nashik, 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.] 5