Section 3 — Right of child to free and compulsory education.

3. Right of child to free and compulsory education.—1[(1) Every child of the age of six to fourteen 
years, including a child referred to in clause (d) or clause (e) of section 2, shall have the right to free and 
compulsory education in a neighbourhood school till the completion of his or her elementary education.] 

(2) For the purpose of sub-section (1), no child shall be liable to pay any kind of fee or charges or 
expenses which may prevent him or her from pursuing and completing the elementary education. 
                                                        
1. Subs. by Act 30 of 2012, s. 4, for sub-section (1) (w.e.f. 1-8-2012). 



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2[(3) A child with disability referred to in sub-clause (A) of clause (ee) of section 2 shall, without 

prejudice to the provisions of the Persons with Disabilities (Equal Opportunities, Protection of Rights and 
Full Participation) Act, 1995 (1 of 1996), and a child referred to in sub-clauses (B) and (C) of clause (ee) 
of section 2, have the same rights to pursue free and compulsory elementary education which children 
with disabilities have under the provisions of Chapter V of the Persons with Disabilities (Equal 
Opportunities, Protection of Rights and Full Participation) Act, 1995: 

Provided that a child with “multiple disabilities” referred to in clause (h) and a child with “severe 
disability” referred to in clause (o) of section 2 of the National Trust for Welfare of Persons with Autism, 
Cerebral Palsy, Mental Retardation and Multiple Disabilities Act, 1999 (44 of 1999) may also have the 
right to opt for home-based education.]