The Kerala HC Kendriya Vidyalaya twin girl admission case ended with the High Court dismissing a plea against the withdrawal of a special admission concession for twin girl children. The Court ruled that Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan (KVS) could legally discontinue the policy from the 2022-23 academic year. It held that the concession was only a privilege and not an enforceable legal right.
Justice Bechu Kurian Thomas delivered the judgment in Rajesh R. & Anugraha Rajesh v. Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan & Others (W.P.(C) No. 17439 of 2026) on June 24, 2026.
Petition Challenged Withdrawal of Earlier Admission Policy
Rajesh R., an employee of the Indian Railways, and his six-year-old daughter, Anugraha Rajesh, filed the writ petition. Anugraha is one of a pair of twin girls. The petitioners challenged KVS’s decision to withdraw the policy that treated twin girl children as a single admission for seats above the approved class strength.
They argued that the withdrawal violated Article 14 of the Constitution. They also requested admission for the second petitioner to Class I at PM Shri Kendriya Vidyalaya, Kollam. According to them, separating the twins at a young age would affect their emotional and physical well-being.
Petitioners Relied on Equality and National Education Policy
Advocate Adithya Rajeev, appearing for the petitioners, argued that Kendriya Vidyalayas had earlier treated twin girl children as a single admission under the special category for a single girl child.
He submitted that ending this benefit weakened the objectives of gender justice and equality. He also relied on Clauses 6.2 and 6.7 of the National Education Policy, 2020. According to the petitioners, allowing twin sisters to study together would support the goals of the “Beti Bachao Beti Padhao” initiative.
Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan Defended the Policy Change
Standing Counsel Smt. T.K. Sreekala, through Adv. Uthara Asokan, represented the respondents. They argued that centrally framed Admission Guidelines govern admissions to Kendriya Vidyalayas. These guidelines ensure transparency, uniformity, equity, and administrative feasibility.
The respondents explained that KVS withdrew the concession after the 2022-23 academic year. Under the 2026-27 Admission Guidelines, one twin secured admission after obtaining waiting list number 6 under Category I. The second twin received waiting list number 16. Since admissions closed at waiting list number 12, KVS could not offer her a seat. The respondents argued that relaxing the rules would unfairly affect other eligible applicants.
Court Rejected the Claim of Legitimate Expectation
The Court noted that the current Admission Guidelines, introduced from the 2024-25 academic session, replaced the earlier policy. The revised guidelines no longer treat twin girl children as a single admission. The 2025-26 Guidelines also restrict admissions beyond the approved class strength to specific categories, and twin girl children do not fall within them.
Justice Bechu Kurian Thomas observed that the petitioners applied under the new Guidelines with full knowledge that the concession no longer existed. Therefore, they could not claim legitimate expectation. The Court relied on Bannari Amman Sugars Ltd. v. Commercial Tax Officer & Others (2005) 1 SCC 625 and held that no legitimate expectation arose without a supporting provision in the applicable Guidelines.
Concession Was a Privilege, Not a Legal Right
The Court held that the earlier concession created only a privilege. It did not confer a vested legal right. Relying on Ayurveda Shastri Seva Mandal v. Union of India (2013) 16 SCC 696, the Court stated that authorities may withdraw educational privileges when policy considerations require.
The Court also observed that Kendriya Vidyalayas operate across the country and must apply uniform admission rules. Granting admission outside the notified Guidelines because of individual hardship would prejudice other applicants. The Court referred to Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan & Others v. Elna Chinchu & Another [2022 KER 41844], where a Division Bench had upheld the withdrawal of discretionary admission quotas.
Writ Petition Dismissed
The Court concluded that the second petitioner had no legal right to seek admission outside the notified Admission Guidelines merely because her twin sister secured admission. Finding no merit in the challenge, the High Court dismissed the writ petition.
The Kerala HC Kendriya Vidyalaya twin girl admission ruling confirms that courts will not interfere with uniform admission policies unless they violate a legal or constitutional right.
