Delhi High Court Orders JNV to Admit Students Regardless of District Residency

The Delhi High Court has mandated that Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya (JNV) must ensure no student is denied admission solely because they do not belong to the district where the school is situated. Justice C. Hari Shankar issued this directive while overturning an earlier decision by Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya, Mungeshpur, which had denied admission to a student. The judge confirmed the student’s eligibility for admission to class VI for the academic session 2024-25, allowing her to continue her studies there.

This ruling came in response to a petition by a student who had completed her education up to class five at Navyug School, Peshwa Road in New Delhi, and sought admission to class six at Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya, Mungeshpur. The school had rejected her application, citing that her previous schooling was in New Delhi district, while Mungeshpur is in North West Delhi.

Justice Shankar referenced a similar case where a bench permitted a student to continue studying at Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya on an interim basis during the case’s proceedings. He emphasized that JNVs must adhere to the previous order and not deny admission based on district residency. Additionally, he noted that students should not have to resort to legal action to obtain admission.