In a rare move, an eleven-year-old student has approached the Supreme Court questioning the Delhi government’s decision to conduct entrance tests for admission into Classes 6, 7, & 8 of Chief Minister Schools of High Excellence (CM SHRI).
The child, Janmesh Sagar, currently studying in Class VI at Government Sarvodaya Bal Vidyalaya, argues that forcing children to clear an exam before securing a seat violates their right to education under the Constitution.
Petition Against Screening In School Admissions
The plea, filed under Article 32, stresses that the July 23, 2025 circular mandating an entrance exam directly conflicts with Section 13 of the Right to Education (RTE) Act, 2009. The Act categorically states that “no screening procedure shall be adopted while admitting a child.”
Despite this, Janmesh was made to sit for an entrance test on September 13, 2025. His petition calls the policy both “unlawful and discriminatory,” pointing out that CM SHRI schools fall under the “specified category” of institutions under Section 2(p) of the RTE Act — and therefore can’t be exempted from this safeguard.
Conflict With Earlier Court View
The case also revives an old legal debate. In an earlier ruling, the Delhi High Court had observed that the RTE Act did not apply to specified category schools. But Janmesh’s plea argues that this interpretation goes against the spirit of Article 21-A, which guarantees every child free and compulsory education, as well as Section 13 of the RTE Act.
The petition maintains that the right to education cannot be diluted by entrance-based barriers, especially in government-run schools created for providing quality education.
What Student Seeks From Court
Through his plea, the student has requested the Supreme Court to:
- Declare that CM SHRI schools are fully bound by Section 13 of the RTE Act.
- Quash the Delhi government’s July 23 circular introducing entrance tests.
- Ensure that admissions are conducted through a lottery-based system rather than screening.
Read More: Supreme Court, Delhi High Court, States High Court, International
