The Kerala High Court has refused to direct Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan (KVS) to admit a six-year-old twin girl to Class I after her sister secured admission but she remained on the waiting list. The Court held that the earlier concession treating twin girl children as a single admission had already been withdrawn and could not be claimed as a legal right.
Background of the Case
The petition was filed by Rajesh R., an Indian Railways employee, on behalf of his twin daughters. While one of the girls obtained admission to PM Shri Kendriya Vidyalaya, Kollam through the admission process, the second child was placed at waiting list number 16 and did not secure a seat because admissions closed at waiting list number 12.
The father argued that KVS had earlier treated twin girl children as a single admission under the special category for single girl children. He contended that separating the twins at such a young age would adversely affect their emotional well-being and that discontinuing the policy violated the constitutional guarantee of equality under Article 14.
KVS Stand Before the Court
Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan opposed the plea, stating that the special concession for twin girl children had been withdrawn from the 2022-23 academic session. It submitted that admissions are governed by uniform national guidelines and no relaxation could be granted unless specifically provided under those rules.
The respondents also argued that granting relief to one applicant outside the notified guidelines would compromise fairness and affect other children waiting for admission.
Court's Observations
Justice Bechu Kurian Thomas observed that the existing admission guidelines no longer contain any provision allowing twin girl children to be treated as a single admission. The Court noted that the petitioners had applied knowing fully well that the concession was no longer available.
"The concession that earlier existed was only a privilege and not a vested right,"
the Court observed, adding that privileges granted through policy can be withdrawn by the competent authority.
The Court further said that Kendriya Vidyalayas function under uniform admission norms across the country and individual hardships cannot justify departures from publicly notified guidelines. Allowing such exceptions would prejudice other applicants who participated under the same rules.
Court's Decision
Finding no illegality in the revised admission policy or the denial of admission to the second twin, the Kerala High Court dismissed the writ petition. It held that the petitioner could not claim admission solely because her twin sister had secured a seat and that no enforceable legal right survived after the withdrawal of the earlier concession.
Case Details:
Case Title: Rajesh R. and Anr. v. Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan and Ors.
Case Number: W.P.(C) No. 17439 of 2026
Judge: Justice Bechu Kurian Thomas
Decision Date: 24 June 2026
