Long distance between a school and the residence of a child for whom admission is sought cannot be the sole reason to deny admission, since the parents of the applicant could always be given an opportunity to shift to a place closer to the institution, the Madras High Court has observed.
Justice S. Vaidyanathan made the observation while dismissing a writ petition filed by a minor child, represented by her father, seeking admission in Class I in the Kendriya Vidyalaya at the IAF Station in Sulur in Coimbatore district. The judge rejected her plea on grounds other than the distance.
Though the school’s counsel claimed that the petitioner was residing 16 km away and the petitioner’s counsel rebutted it by stating they have shifted the residence, the judge said: “It is no doubt true that distance may not be a factor to be considered for rejection as parents must be given an opportunity to shift the residence.”
When it came to the conduct of the parents, the judge found they had provided misleading information on several issues. “The applicant had provided incorrect particulars in the online application form, which shows that the petitioner is not entitled to the relief sought,” the judge said.
