11-year-old moves Supreme Court against entrance tests in CM Shri schools

An eleven-year-old student approached the Supreme Court challenging the Delhi Government’s admission policy for CM SHRI Schools that requires students to undergo an entrance test for entry into Classes 6th, 7th and 8th.

The writ petition, filed under Article 32 of the Constitution, contends that the admission test violates Article 21-A of the Constitution, which guarantees the right to free and compulsory education and Section 13 of the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009 (RTE Act).

Section 13 of the RTE Act explicitly prohibits the use of any “screening procedure” in school admissions.

Janmesh Sagar, a Class VI student of Government Sarvodaya Bal Vidyalaya in Delhi, had applied for admission to a CM SHRI school for the academic year 2025-26.

However, in compliance with a circular dated July 23, 2025, issued by the Government of NCT of Delhi, he was subjected to an entrance test on September 13, 2025.

The petition argues that such tests are unlawful and discriminatory, especially since CM SHRI schools fall under the “specified category” defined in Section 2(p) of the RTE Act, which does not exempt them from the applicability of Section 13.

The petition further highlights that while the Delhi High Court in an earlier case held that the RTE Act does not extend to specified category schools, this interpretation contradicts the mandate of Article 21-A and Section 13 of the RTE Act. Hence, the petitioner has directly moved the Supreme Court.

Through the petition, Janmesh seeks several directions, including a declaration that Section 13 of the RTE Act applies to CM SHRI schools, striking down the July 23, 2025, circular mandating entrance tests, and directing that admissions be conducted through a lottery system rather than screening procedures.