THE SC has rejected pleas challenging the KVS(Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan) decision to raise the minimum age bar limit from 5 to 6 years old for taking admission to Class 1st from the upcoming academic session 2022-23.
KVS had earlier told the high court that the age criteria were updated in strict compliance with the 2020 National Education Policy which was issued by the Centre on July 9, 2020.
“No doubt, the policy which was formulated in 2020 is yet to be implemented across schools in Delhi, despite the same having been already implemented in 21 states but once the statute i.e., the RTE Act, 2009 in itself places the KVS in a separate category coupled with the fact that all branches of KVS across the country, being run by the same management are obliged to follow the uniform criteria, the anxiousness of the KVS to introduce the age criteria of 6 years in accordance with the NEP, 2020 is well understood.”
The Central government, represented by Additional Solicitor General Chetan Sharma, argued that there was no "vested right" in the petitioners to seek admission in KV and the petitioners would become eligible for admission next year.
Lawyer Ashok Agarwal, appearing for one of the petitioners emphasized that the change in age criteria, without any prior notice, is prejudicial to the interest of the students who have the right to participate in the admission process.
Agarwal also said that the NEP has to be first implemented at the pre-primary level and can't be directly imposed upon students entering class 1.
The petition had stated that change is arbitrary, discriminatory, unjust, unreasonable, and without the authority of law and that it did not give sufficient time to the parents to make alternate arrangements.
The Central government, represented by Additional Solicitor General Chetan Sharma had earlier urged the court to not "interdict" as its order would have a pan-India impact and create "heterogeneity" amongst the students who would be aged five to seven years.
