Kendriya Vidyalayas : Parents Approach High Courts Against 6 Years Minimum Age For Admission

A writ petition has been filed before the Bombay High Court challenging the admission criteria in Kendriya Vidyalayas to the extent that it lays down minimum 6 years of age for admission of a child in Class I.

The petitioner is a 5 year old student who has approached the Court through her father Mr Vishnu PS Langawat.

A similar petition has also been filed before the Delhi High Court by an NGO Social Jurist challenging the admission criteria, on behalf of father of a 5 year old child.

According to the petitioner before the Bombay High Court, the criteria is arbitrary, discriminatory, unjust, unreasonable, violative of fundamental right to her education as guaranteed to her under Article 14, 21 and 21A of the Constitution of India read the Goa School Education Act, 1984 and the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009

The petitioner has sought direction to KV Sangathan and Union of India to reframe the admission criteria for admission session 2022-23.

Further, directions have been sought to the KV Sangathan to permit the Petitioner to apply for admission in Class I in the Academic Year 2022-23.

The petition has pointed out that the KV Samgathan issued an Admission Notice for Academic Year 2022-23 wherein it prescribes the minimum age of 6 years as on 31.03.2022 for admission in Class-I in academic year 2022-23.

While stating that prior to academic year 2022-23, the minimum age of admission for Class-1 in the KV was throughout 5 years as on 31st March, the Petitioner has argued that the impugned admission criteria for this academic year 2022-23 is arbitrary, discriminatory, unjust, unreasonable, violative of fundamental right to education of the Petitioner.

The Petitioner who would be more than 5 years of age as on 31.03.2022, has submitted that she was desirous of applying for admission in Class-I at Kendriya Vidyalaya, Bambolim Camp, however, she could not get herself register on the admission portal due to change in the age criteria by the Respondents.