HC: KVS can't deny EWS admissions if certificate issued by another state

The Centre, which controls the Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan (KVS), is the appropriate government for notifying the annual income threshold to decide whether a child belongs to the economically weaker section (EWS), the Delhi High Court has ruled.

It said the KVS cannot deny admission to a student under the EWS category on the ground that the income certificate has been obtained from another state and not from the Delhi government.

Justice Anup Jairam Bhambhani said the central government has notified that a certificate for that purpose is to be issued by an officer not below the rank of tehsildar in the state, after carefully verifying all relevant documents and following due process as prescribed by the respective state governments.

It added that the central government has notified the gross annual family income threshold for the purpose of determining EWS category as below Rs 8 lakh.

The petitioner, a native of Azamgarh in Uttar Pradesh, had initially sought admission for his son in class 1 under the EWS category.

He said he moved to Delhi on securing a job and wanted his son to be admitted to a Kendriya Vidyalaya in the national capital. Since significant time was lost during the litigation, the court ordered his admission to class 3.