In a significant ruling, the Delhi High Court has instructed Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya (JNV), Mungeshpur, to admit students irrespective of their district of prior schooling. The decision comes in response to a petition filed by a student previously denied admission due to her schooling outside the North West district.
Justice C Hari Shankar overturned the school’s decision, emphasizing that the student is entitled to join Class 6 for the 2024-25 academic year. The court criticized the school’s restrictive admission policy, which was limited to students from the Mungeshpur area.
The issue echoes a previous case where the high court allowed another student to continue their education at the same JNV while awaiting a decision from a division bench. Justice Shankar highlighted the need for JNVs to follow court judgments and avoid forcing students into litigation over such matters.
The ruling also addressed broader concerns of discrimination, as JNVs had excluded students from Central and New Delhi districts under their urban quota. This practice was deemed arbitrary and a violation of Article 14 of the Constitution, which guarantees equality before the law.
