Madras High Court
Mohandoss vs The Secretary To Government on 14 July, 2025
Author: C.Saravanan
Bench: C. Saravanan
W.P.(MD) No.26623 of 2024
BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT
DATED : 14.07.2025
CORAM
THE HON'BLE MR.JUSTICE C. SARAVANAN
W.P.(MD) No.26623 of 2024
and
W.M.P.(MD) No.22585 of 2024
Mohandoss ... Petitioner
Vs.
1. The Secretary to Government,
Government of India,
Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and
Pensions Department of Personnel and Training,
North Block, New Delhi 110 001.
2. The Chairman,
National Testing Agency,
Okla Industrial Estate, New Delhi.
3. The Secretary,
Sainik School Society, New Delhi - 11.
4. The Secretary,
Ministry of Higher Education,
Government of India,
302-C, Shastri Bhawan, New Delhi.
5. The Secretary Ministry of Human Resource Development,
Government of India,
Shastri Bhawan, New Delhi.
(R4 and R5 are suo motu impleaded
vide order dated 12.12.2024) ... Respondents
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PRAYER : Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of
India, praying for issuance of a Writ of Certiorarified Mandamus calling
for the records relating to the impugned Reservation Criteria of the Sainik
Schools issued in Para 6.2 and Appendix V of the Information Bulletin for
the All India Sainik Schools Entrance Examination - 2024 issued by the
2nd respondent and quash the same and consequent direction may be
issued to the respondents to include reservation for Economic Weaker
Section (EWS) as provided under the Constitution (One Hundred and
Third Amendment) Act, 2019 in Sainik Schools Admission Reservation
Criteria from All India Sainik Schools Entrance Examination – 2025.
For Petitioner : Mr.T.A.Ebenezer
For R1 & R3 : Mr. A.R.L.Sundaresan,
Additional Solicitor General of India
for Mr.K.Govindaraj
Deputy Solicitor General of India
For R2 : Mr.P.Karthik
ORDER
The Petitioner has filed this Writ Petition seeking to quash the
impugned reservation criteria of the Sainik Schools, as set out in
Paragraph 6.2 and Appendix V of the Information Bulletin for the All
India Sainik Schools Entrance Examination – 2024, issued by the 2nd
Respondent, the Chairman, National Testing Agency, New Delhi and also
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for a consequential direction to the Respondents to include reservation
under Article 15(6) of the Constitution of India, by incorporating
provisions for the Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) in the Sainik
School admission criteria from the All India Sainik Schools Entrance
Examination.
2. The case of the Petitioner is that, although the Petitioner’s son
had qualified securing 229 marks out of 300 was not granted admission as
he was considered under the General Category, since the Petitioner
belongs to the Hindu Reddy Ganjam community, a notified Backward
Caste in the State List which was not included in the Central List of Other
Backward Classes. It is stated that the Petitioner’s son is entitled to be
issued an Economically Weaker Section (EWS) Certificate, and therefore,
the Petitioner was issued an EWS Certificate by the competent authority.
3. The facts on record reveal that the Respondents have not issued
any Notification in the All India Sainik Schools Entrance Examination,
2025 for seats against Economically Weaker Section (EWS). It is stated
that, although the scheme for reservation under the EWS category was
introduced by the Government in 2019 following the Constitutional
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amendment, the Respondent Sainik School did not implement the EWS
reservation till date.
4. Further, it is also revealed that the Information Bulletin for the
All India Sainik Schools Entrance Examination – 2024 reveals that the
Sainik Schools did not provide reservation for candidates who belong to
the Economically Weaker Section (EWS).
5. Therefore, the Petitioner has filed this Writ Petition challenging
the reservation criteria of the Sainik Schools as specified in Paragraph 6.2
and Appendix V of the said Information Bulletin, issued by the 2nd
Respondent. Therefore, seeks for a direction to the Respondents to include
reservation for the candidates under EWS category as provided under the
Constitution (One Hundred and Third Amendment) Act, 2019.
SUBMISSIONS ON BEHALF OF THE PETITIONER:-
6. The learned counsel for the Petitioner submits that, as per
Articles 15(6) and 16(6) of the Constitution of India, a maximum of 10%
reservation is permitted for Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) in
“educational institutions”. It is further submitted that, in accordance with
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these constitutional provisions, an Office Memorandum dated 17.01.2019
was issued by the Ministry of Human Resource Development, Department
of Higher Education, Government of India, mandating that EWS
reservation shall be provided in ‘Central Educational Institutions’ as
defined under Clause (d) of Section 2 of the Central Educational
Institutions (Reservation in Admission) Act, 2006, with effect from the
Academic Year 2019-2020.
7. It is submitted by the learned counsel for the Petitioner that
Sainik Schools are “educational institutions” established by the Central
Government under the Societies Registration Act, 1860, and therefore, it
is evident that EWS reservation is applicable to Sainik Schools as well. It
is submitted that, although the Office Memorandum was issued by the
Department of Higher Education, Ministry of Human Resource
Development, Government of India, it does not state that the applicability
of EWS reservation is confined only to institutions of higher education.
8. It is further submitted by the learned counsel for the Petitioner
that the Office Memorandum states that EWS reservation is applicable to
“Central Educational Institutions”, and not merely to “Central Higher
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Educational Institutions”. Therefore, once the Office Memorandum was
issued making EWS reservation under Article 15(6) of the Constitution
mandatory for “Central Educational Institutions”, the argument that it
applies only to higher education institutions is not sustainable.
SUBMISSIONS ON BEHALF OF THE RESPONDENTS:-
9. Per contra, Mr.A.R.L.Sundaresan, the learned Additional
Solicitor General of India for the 1st and 3rd Respondents, submits that the
Sainik School falls within the meaning of ‘Central Educational
Institution’ as defined under Section 2(d) of the Central Educational
Institutions (Reservation in Admission) Act, 2006. He further submits
that, in terms of the Office Memorandum in F.No.12-A/2019-U1 dated
17.01.2019 issued by the Government of India, Ministry of Human
Resource Development, Department of Higher Education, pursuant to the
amendment to the Constitution of India vide the Constitution (One
Hundred and Third Amendment) Act, 2019, reservation for the
Economically Weaker Section (EWS) was introduced, subject to a
maximum of 10% of the total seats in each category. The said reservation
is to be implemented in accordance with the conditions laid down in
O.M.No.20013/01/2018-BC-II dated 17.01.2019 issued by the Ministry of
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Social Justice and Empowerment. It is further submitted that the said
reservation is not applicable to eight institutions, including Research and
Miscellaneous Institutions.
10. Further, the learned Additional Solicitor General of India,
submits that the Petitioner is seeking to quash the existing reservation
criteria and to issue a writ of mandamus directing the provision of
reservation for Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) as per the One
Hundred and Third Amendment to the Constitution of India. The
Petitioner also seeks a direction to the Respondents to implement EWS
reservation enabled by the insertion of Article 15(6) through the said
Amendment. It is submitted that a Writ of Mandamus directing the grant
of reservation is not maintainable, as the One Hundred and Third
Amendment to the Constitution of India merely confers an enabling power
upon the State to provide such reservation; it does not impose a
mandatory obligation.
11. It is further submitted by the learned Additional Solicitor
General of India that Article 15(6) only states that nothing in this Article
or in Article 19 shall prevent the State from making special provisions for
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the reservation of Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) in educational
institutions. It is submitted that the amendment does not mandate that
reservation must compulsorily be provided for EWS in such institutions.
In other words, it is an enabling provision and not a mandatory one.
12. It is further submitted by the learned Additional Solicitor
General of India that whether reservation for EWS is required, and if so,
to what extent, and in respect of which class or category of educational
institutions, whether Higher Educational Institutions, Arts and Science
Colleges, or Schools, are all matters to be considered by the State. Only if
the State decides that EWS reservation is necessary, and that it is required
in certain types of institutions or in some among them, would the State be
empowered to make special provision for EWS reservation.
13. It is submitted by the learned Additional Solicitor General of
India that the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Department of
Social Justice and Empowerment, New Delhi, has issued an Office
Memorandum dated 17.01.2019 prescribing the criteria for reservation for
Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, and Socially and Educationally
Backward Classes, whose family gross annual income is below Rs.8.00
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lakhs and that certain exclusions have also been provided therein,
disqualifying individuals from being identified as EWS irrespective of
their family income.
14. It is further submitted by the learned Additional Solicitor
General of India that the Office Memorandum further provides that every
educational institution shall, with the prior approval of the appropriate
authority, increase the number of seats over and above its permitted
strength in each branch of study or faculty, so that the number of seats
available for candidates other than those belonging to the EWS category is
not less than the total number of seats available in the academic session
immediately preceding the date of coming into force of the said Office
Memorandum. It is submitted that a copy of the said Office Memorandum
has also been communicated to the Secretary, Department of Personnel
and Training, New Delhi, and the Secretary, Department of Higher
Education, New Delhi.
15. It is further submitted by the learned Additional Solicitor
General of India that, on the same day, i.e., 17.01.2019, the Government
of India, Ministry of Human Resource Development, Department of
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Higher Education, issued an Office Memorandum directing that
reservation for Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) be provided in
accordance with the directions contained in the aforementioned Office
Memorandum dated 17.01.2019 issued by the Ministry of Social Justice
and Empowerment, subject to the conditions mentioned therein.
16. It is submitted by the learned Additional Solicitor General of
India that Para 3 of the said Office Memorandum provides that the
Chairman of the University Grants Commission (UGC), the All India
Council for Technical Education (AICTE), and the Chairperson of the
National Council for Teacher Education (NCTE), along with the Bureau
Heads of the Department of Higher Education in the Ministry of Human
Resource Development, shall ensure immediate compliance with the said
Office Memorandum.
17. It is further submitted by the learned Additional Solicitor
General of India that a copy of the said Office Memorandum has been
communicated to the Chairman, UGC; Chairman, AICTE; Chairperson,
NCTE; and the Bureau Heads of the Department of Higher Education.
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18. The learned Additional Solicitor General of India submits that
reservation has been provided by the respondents to the extent of 15% for
Scheduled Castes (SC), 7.5% for Scheduled Tribes (ST), and 22% for
Other Backward Classes (OBC), as per Appendix V, Para 6.2 of the
Information Bulletin.
19. It is submitted by the learned Additional Solicitor General of
India that such reservation is in accordance with the provisions statutorily
mandated under the Central Educational Institutions (Reservation in
Admission) Act, 2006. It is further submitted that any reservation beyond
the same, including under Article 15(6) of the Constitution, can be
provided by an educational institution only if the State decides to
introduce such reservation for Economically Weaker Sections (EWS).
20. It is further submitted by the learned Additional Solicitor
General of India that the Government has decided to provide EWS
reservation only in higher educational institutions and not in school-level
educational institutions. A reading of the Office Memorandum dated
17.01.2019 issued by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment,
Department of Social Justice and Empowerment, New Delhi, and the
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Office Memorandum of the same date issued by the Ministry of Human
Resource Development, Department of Higher Education, clearly reflects
this decision.
21. It is submitted by the learned Additional Solicitor General of
India that no policy decision has been taken by the Government of India,
as of now, to extend EWS reservation to school education. Therefore, the
3rd Respondent herein cannot be compelled to provide EWS reservation in
its school admissions.
22. The learned Additional Solicitor General of India refers to the
decision of the Hon’ble Supreme Court in Society for Unaided Private
Schools of Rajasthan v. Union of India and another, reported in (2012)
6 SCC 1, and prays for the dismissal of this Writ Petition.
23. In reply, the learned counsel for the Petitioner submits that in
the decision of the Hon’ble Supreme Court in Society for Unaided Private
Schools of Rajasthan (cited supra), it was clarified that the Right of
Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009 (RTE Act) does
not apply to boarding schools. The Hon’ble Supreme Court, in the said
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decision, held that boarding schools and orphanages are not covered under
the provisions of the RTE Act, which mandates free and compulsory
education for children aged 6 to 14 years. It is submitted that the
reservation for Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) under Article 15(6)
of the Constitution of India does not pertain to free or compulsory
education, and hence, the said judgment is not applicable to the facts of
the present case.
DISCUSSION:-
24. I have considered the arguments advanced by the learned
counsel for the Petitioner, the learned Additional Solicitor General of
India for the 1st and 3rd Respondents and the learned counsel for the 2nd
Respondent.
25. Article 15(6) and Article 16(6) were inserted to the Constitution
of India vide Sections 2 and 3 of the Constitution (One Hundred and Third
Amendment) Act, 2019.
26. The relief prayed in this Writ Petition is concerned with Article
15(6) of the Constitution of India, which was inserted vide Section 2 of
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the Constitution (One Hundred and Third Amendment) Act, 2019. For the
sake of clarity, both Article 15(6) and Article 16(6) of the Constitution of
India are reproduced below:-
Article 15(6) of the Constitution of Article 16(6) of the Constitution
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15. Prohibition of discrimination on 16. Equality of opportunity in
grounds of religion, race, caste, sex matters of public employment
or place of birth (1) ……..
(1) ........ (2) ........
(2) ........ .....
.....
(6) Nothing in this article shall
(6) Nothing in this article or sub- prevent the State from making any
clause (g) of clause (1) of article 19 or provision for the reservation of
clause (2) of article 29 shall prevent appointments or posts in favour of
the State from making,- any economically weaker sections
(a) any special provision for the of citizens other than the classes
advancement of any economically mentioned in clause (4), in
weaker sections of citizens other than addition to the existing reservation
the classes mentioned in clauses (4) and subject to a maximum of ten
and (5); and per cent. of the posts in each
category.
(b) any special provision for the
advancement of any economically
weaker sections of citizens other than
the classes mentioned in clauses (4)
and (5) in so far as such special
provisions relate to their admission to
educational institutions including
private educational institutions,
whether aided or unaided by the State,
other than the minority educational
institutions referred to in clause (1) of
article 30, which in the case of
reservation would be in addition to
the existing reservations and subject
to a maximum of ten per cent. of the
total seats in each category.
Explanation.—For the purposes of
this article and article 16,
“economically weaker sections” shall
be such as may be notified by the
State from time to time on the basis of
family income and other indicators of
economic disadvantage.
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27. For the sake of clarity, Article 15(4) and Article 15(6) are also
reproduced below:-
Article 15(4) of the Constitution of Article 15(5) of the Constitution of
India India
15. Prohibition of discrimination on 15. Prohibition of discrimination on
grounds of religion, race, caste, sex grounds of religion, race, caste, sex
or place of birth or place of birth
(1) …….. (1) ……..
(2) …….. (2) ……..
….. …..
(4) Nothing in this article or in clause (5) Nothing in this article or in sub-
(2) of article 29 shall prevent the State clause (g) of clause (1) of article 19
from making any special provision for shall prevent the State from making
the advancement of any socially and any special provision, by law, for the
educationally backward classes of advancement of any socially and
citizens or for the Scheduled Castes educationally backward classes of
and the Scheduled Tribes. citizens or for the Scheduled Castes or
the Scheduled Tribes in so far as such
special provisions relate to their
admission to educational institutions
including private educational
institutions, whether aided or unaided
by the State, other than the minority
educational institutions referred to in
clause (1) of article 30.
28. Both these clauses to Article 15 of the Constitution of India
however give powers to the “State” as defined in Article 12 of the
Constitution of India to make special provisions or by law, for the
advancement of any socially and educationally backward classes of
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citizens or for the Scheduled Castes or the Scheduled Tribes.
29. Article 15 of the Constitution of India prohibits discrimination
on grounds of religion, race, caste, sex, or place of birth. It enjoins the
State to not to discriminate against its citizens on grounds of religion,
race, caste, sex, place of birth, or any of them. Article 16 of the
Constitution of India, on the other hand, enjoins the State to give equality
of opportunity to all its citizens in matters relating to the employment or
appointment to any office under the State.
30. Article 15 of the Constitution of India was inserted to give
power to make special provision for admission to educational institutions
including private institutions, whether aided or unaided by the State, for
the advancement of any socially and educationally backward classes of
citizens or for the Scheduled Castes or the Scheduled Tribes, exception
being minority educational institutions referred to in clause (1) of Article
30 of the Constitution of India.
31. Article 15(4) of the Constitution of India gives the power to the
State to make any special provision for advancement of any socially and
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educationally backward classes of citizens or for the Scheduled Caste and
Scheduled Tribes. Article 15(4) of the Constitution of India was inserted
by the 1st amendment to the Constitution in the year 1951 in the light of
the decision of the Hon’ble Supreme Court in State of Madras Vs.
Champakam Dorairajan, reported in AIR 1951 SC 226 which was
rendered on 09.04.1951.
32. There the Communal Government Order No. 2208 dated
16.06.1950 of the State of Madras which reiterated a pre-constitutional
Communal Order and proceeded on the basis of religion, caste,
community and race provided reservation for the purpose of admission to
Government Medical and Engineering Colleges in the State of Madras
was challenged before this Court.
33. The issue that arose for consideration before this Court in the
said challenge to the aforesaid Communal Government Order No. 2208
dated 16.06.1950 is that whether the Communal Government Order No.
2208 dated 16.06.1950 when applied to the case of the two Petitioners
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therein in any way inconsistent with either or both the said provisions of
the Constitution and whether the fundamental right of the Petitioners
therein either under Article 15 or under Article 29 been ignored by the
Government in seeking to enforce the said Communal Government Order.
34. The Full Bench of this Court vide Judgement dated 27.07.1950
in Civil Miscellaneous Petition Nos.5255 and 5340 of 1950 in
Champakam Dorairajan and Ors Vs. The State of Madras struck down
the Communal Government Order No.2208 dated 16.06.1950 stating that
the aforesaid Communal Government Order is violative of Article 16(1)
of the Constitution of India. The Court held that the Article 16(1) of the
Constitution is unambiguous and declares that the State shall not
discriminate against any citizen on grounds of religion, race, caste, sex,
place of birth or any of them.
35. The Full Bench of this Court while answering the question of
whether the State is at liberty to do anything to achieve the object of
Constitution to provide for the upliftment of the backward and weaker
section of the people, this Court held that the State is entitled to do so as
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long the Fundamental Rights enshrined in the Constitution is not infringed
or impaired and no provision of the Constitution is contravened.
36. The decision of the Full Bench of this Court in the aforesaid
case was affirmed by the Constitutional Bench of the Hon’ble Supreme
Court in the State of Madras vs. Champakam Dorairajan (cited supra).
The Hon’ble Supreme Court held that the said Communal Government
Order violated Article 29(2) of the Constitution of India.
37. The Constitutional Bench of the Hon’ble Supreme Court, while
dismissing the appeals of the State of Madras in State of Madras vs.
Champakam Dorairajan (cited supra) held that the Directive Principles
of State Policy which are unenforceable by Courts cannot override the
Fundamental Rights of citizens which are enforceable. It held
Fundamental Rights are sacrosanct and not liable to be abridged by any
legislative or executive act or order and the Directive Principles have to
conform to and run as subsidiary to Fundamental Rights.
38. This decision led to the 1st Amendment to the Constitution on
10.05.1951 which laid down that in accordance to Article 46 of the
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Constitution of India, as a Directive Principle of State policy, the State
sdhould promote with special care the educational and economic interests
of the weaker sections of the people and protect them from social justice.
It further laid down that any special provision that the State may make for
the educational, economic or social advancement of any backward class of
citizens may not be challenged on the ground of being discriminatory. It is
proposed that Article 15(3) to be suitably amended. Thus, Article 15(4) to
the Constitution of India was inserted.
39. Article15(5) of the Constitution of India, on the other hand,
prohibits discrimination on the grounds of religion, race, caste, sex or
place of birth. Article 15(5) of the Constitution of India was inserted vide
the Constitution (Ninety-Third) Amendment, 2005 with effect from
20.01.2006 long after the Hon’ble Supreme Court rendered its decision in
Indra Swahney etc Vs. Union of India & Ors., reported in AIR 1993 SC
477, wherein the correctness of challenge to implementation of the
Mandal Commission was decided.
40. Article 15(6) of the Constitution of India is an exception to
Articles 15(1) to 15(5), Sub-Clause (g) to clause (1) to Article 19 and
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Article 29(2) of the Constitution of India.
41. A reading of Article 15(6) of the Constitution of Indian makes it
clear that nothing in Article 15(1) to (5) or Article 19(1)(g) or Article
29(2) of the Constitution of India shall prevent the State from making any
special provision for the advancement of any economically weaker
sections of citizens other than the classes mentioned in Article 15(4) and
Article 15(5) and any special provision for the advancement of any
economically weaker sections of citizens other than the classes mentioned
in Article 15(4) and Article 15(5) in so far as such special provisions
relating to their admission in educational institutions including private
educational institutions, whether aided or unaided by the State, other than
the minority educational institutions referred to in Article 30(1). The
reservation would be in addition to the existing reservations and subject to
a maximum of ten per cent of the total seats in each category.
42. Till the enactment of Central Education Institutions
(Reservation in admission), Act, 2006, the reservation in “Central
Educational Institutions” was through various Central Government Orders
and Memorandums.
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43. The Central Educational Institutions (Reservation in
Admission) Act, 2006 came into force on 03.01.2007. It contemplates
reservation of seats in “Central Educational Institutions”. The
expression ‘Central Educational Institution’ has been defined in Section
2(d) of the Act, which reads as under:
2. Definitions. _
(a) …….
……
(d) “Central Educational Institution” means—
(i) a university established or incorporated by or under
a Central Act;
(ii)an institution of national importance set up by an
Act of Parliament;
(iii)an institution, declared as a deemed University
under section 3 of the University Grants
Commission Act, 1956 (3 of 1956), and maintained
by or receiving aid from the Central Government;
(iv)an institution maintained by or receiving aid from
the Central Government, whether directly or
indirectly, and affiliated to an institution referred to
in clause (i) or clause (ii), or a constituent unit of an
institution referred to in clause (iii);
(v) an educational institution set up by the Central
Government under the Societies Registration Act,
1860(21 of 1860).
44. It provides for reservation in admission of students belonging to
the Scheduled Castes, the Scheduled Tribes, and the Other Backward
Classes of citizens in certain Central Educational Institutions established,
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maintained, or aided by the Central Government, and for matters
connected therewith or incidental thereto.
45. Section 3 of the Act prescribes reservation under the said Act. It
reads as under:
3. Reservation of seats in Central Educational
Institutions.—The reservation of seats in admission and
its extent in a Central Educational Institution shall be
provided in the following manner, namely:—
(i) out of the annual permitted strength in each branch
of study or faculty, fifteen per cent. seats shall be
reserved for the Scheduled Castes;
(ii)out of the annual permitted strength in each branch
of study or faculty, seven and one-half per cent.
seats shall be reserved for the Scheduled Tribes;
(iii)out of the annual permitted strength in each branch
of study or faculty, twenty-seven per cent. seats
shall be reserved for the Other Backward Classes:
Provided that the State seats, if any, in a Central
Educational Institution situated in the tribal areas referred
to in the Sixth Schedule to the Constitution shall be
governed by such reservation policy for the Scheduled
Castes, the Scheduled Tribes and the Other Backward
Classes, as may be specified, by notification in the Official
Gazette, by the Government of the State where such
institution is situated:
Provided further that if there are no State seats in a
Central Educational Institution and the seats reserved for
the Scheduled Castes exceed the percentage specified
under clause (i) or the seats reserved for the Scheduled
Tribes exceed the percentage specified under clause (ii) or_______________
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W.P.(MD) No.26623 of 2024the seats reserved for the Scheduled Castes and the
Scheduled Tribes taken together exceed the sum of
percentages specified under clauses (i) and (ii), but such
seats are—
(a)less than fifty per cent. of the annual
permitted strength on the date immediately
preceding the date of commencement of this Act,
the total percentage of the seats required to be
reserved for the Other Backward Classes under
clause (iii) shall be restricted to the extent such sum
of percentages specified under clauses (i) and (ii)
falls short of fifty percent of the annual permitted
strength;
(b) more than fifty per cent. of the annual
permitted strength on the date of immediately
preceding the date of commencement of this Act, in
that case no seats shall be reserved for the Other
Backward Classes under clause (iii) but the extent
of the reservation of seats for the Scheduled Castes
and the Scheduled Tribes shall not be reduced in
respect of Central Educational Institutions in the
specified north-eastern region.
46. An exception has been provided in Section 4 of the aforesaid
Act, as per which the provisions of the said Act do not apply to (i)
institutions of excellence, (ii) research institutions, (iii) institutions of
national and strategic importance specified in the Schedule to the Act, (iv)
a Minority Educational Institution as defined in the Act, and any course or
programme at high levels of specialisation, including at the post-doctoral
level, within any branch of study or faculty, which the Central
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Government may, in consultation with the appropriate authority, specify.
47. Earlier, the provisions of the said Act did not apply to a Central
Educational Institution established in the tribal areas referred to in the
Sixth Schedule to the Constitution as per Section 4(a) of the Act.
However, the said Section 4(a) was omitted by Section 4 of the Central
Educational Institutions (Reservation in Admission) Amendment Act,
2012 (Act No.31 of 2012), with effect from 19.06.2012.
48. In Schedule to the said Act, the following institutions have been
named as the Institutions of Excellence, which are outside the purview of
Section 3 of the said Act:
THE SCHEDULE
[See section 4(b)]
S. No. Names of the Institutions of Excellence, etc.
1. Homi Bhabha National Institute, Mumbai and its constituent units,
namely:—
(i) Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Trombay;
(ii) Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research, Kalpakkam;
(iii)Raja Ramanna Centre for Advanced Technology, Indore;
(iv)Institute for Plasma Research, Gandhinagar;
(v) Variable Energy Cyclotron Centre, Kolkata;
(vi)Saha Institute of Nuclear Physics, Kolkata;
(vii)Institute of Physics, Bhubaneshwar;
(viii)Institute of Mathematical Sciences, Chennai;
(ix)Harish-Chandra Research Institute, Allahabad;
(x) Tata Memorial Centre, Mumbai.
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2. Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Mumbai.
3. North-Eastern Indira Gandhi Regional Institute of Health and Medical
Science, Shillong.
4. National Brain Research Centre, Manesar, Gurgaon.
5. Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research, Bangalore.
6. Physical Research Laboratory, Ahmedabad.
7. Space Physics Laboratory, Thiruvananthapuram.
8. Indian Institute of Remote Sensing, Dehradun.
49. As per proviso to Section 4(b) of the aforesaid Act, the Central
Government can, as and when considered necessary, amend the Schedule
by notification in the Official Gazette.
50. As far as the State of Tamil Nadu is concerned, till the
enactment of the Tamil Nadu Act for Reservation of Seats in Educational
Institutions and Appointments or Posts in State Services for Backward
Classes, Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, 1944, reservation was
also through Government Orders and Memorandums. Some of these pre-
dated the Constitution under Government of India Act, 1935. As far as
employment is concerned, reservation was provided under Part I to Tamil
Nadu State and Subordinate Service Rules framed under Article 309 of
the Constitution of India.
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51. These are and were in consonance with Article 73 of the
Constitution of India for the Central Government and Article 154 for the
State Government. For the sake of clarity, Article 73 in Part V Chapter I
and Article 154 in Part VI Chapter II of the Constitution of India are
reproduced below:-
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W.P.(MD) No.26623 of 2024Article 73 in Part V Chapter I of the Article 154 in Part VI Chapter II of
Constitution of India the Constitution of India
73. Extent of executive power of the 154. Executive power of State.—
Union.— (1) The executive power of the State
(1) Subject to the provisions of this shall be vested in the Governor and
Constitution, the executive power of shall be exercised by him either
the Union shall extend— (a) to the directly or through officers subordinate
matters with respect to which to him in accordance with this
Parliament has power to make laws; Constitution.
and (b) to the exercise of such rights, (2) Nothing in this article shall—
authority and jurisdiction as are (a) be deemed to transfer to the
exercisable by the Government of Governor any functions conferred by
India by virtue of any treaty or any existing law on any other
agreement: Provided that the executive authority; or
power referred to in sub-clause (a) (b) prevent Parliament or the
shall not, save as expressly provided in Legislature of the State from
this Constitution or in any law made by conferring by law functions on any
Parliament, extend in any State to authority subordinate to the Governor.
matters with respect to which the
Legislature of the State has also power
to make laws.
(2) Until otherwise provided by
Parliament, a State and any officer or
authority of a State may,
notwithstanding anything in this
article, continue to exercise in matters
with respect to which Parliament has
power to make laws for that State such
executive power or functions as the
State or officer or authority thereof
could exercise immediately before the
commencement of this Constitution.
52. The Supreme Court has also given its decision in the context of
recommendation of the Mandal Commission Report in Indra Swahney
etc (cited supra) and the reservation was capped at 50% of total vacancy,
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in the state of Tamil Nadu the reservation is capped at 69% in terms of the
aforesaid enactment viz., Tamil Nadu Act for Reservation of Seats in
Educational Institutions and Appointments or Posts in State Services for
Backward Classes, Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, 1944.
53. Prior to the insertion of Article 15(6) of the Constitution of
India vide Section 2 of the Constitution (One Hundred and Third
Amendment) Act, 2019, Government of India Ministry of Human
Resources Development [Department of School Education & Literacy]
has issued a circular bearing F.No.1-3/2010-EE4, dated 13.07.2012.
54. The said Circular was issued in the light of Section 35(1) of the
Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education (RTE) Act, 2009.
The Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education (RTE) Act,
2009 itself was enacted in the light of insertion of Article 21A of the
Constitution of India vide Constitution (Eighty-Sixth Amendment) Act,
2002 with effect from 01.04.2010.
55. As per the amendments with the insertion of Article 21A of the
Constitution of India, the State has to provide free and compulsory
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education to all children of the age of six to fourteen years in such manner
as the State may, by law, determine. Even prior to the aforesaid
amendment came into force with effect from 01.04.2010, the Right to
Education (RTE) Act, 2009 was enacted.
56. Text of the aforesaid Circular bearing F.No.1-3/2010-EE4,
dated 13.07.2012 issued by Government of India Ministry of Human
Resources Development [Department of School Education & Literacy] is
reproduced below:
F.No. 1-3/2010- EE4
Government of India
Ministry of Human Resource Development
[Department of School Education & Literacy]Room No. 429-A, “C” Wing, Shastri Bhavan,
New Delhi, dated, 13th July, 2012.
Subject: Guidelines under Section 35(1) of the Right of
Children to Free and Compulsory Education
(RTE) Act, 2009 in respect of Residential Schools-
reg.
The Hon’ble Supreme Court in para 13 of its judgement
dated the 12th April, 2012 in WP (C) 95/2010 in the case of
Society for Unaided Private Schools of Rajasthan Vs. Union
of India and Anr.*, and similar writ petitions tagged along
with directed that appropriate Guidelines under section 35 of the
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Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009
be issued clarifying its applicability to boarding or residential
schools.
2. The aforementioned issue has arisen in the context of
applicability of the provisions of clause (c) of sub-section (1) of
section 12 of the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory
Education Act, 2009 on private unaided schools. In the said
section it has been, inter alia, provided that children belonging
to weaker section and disadvantaged group residing in the
specified neighbourhood of the school have a right to be
admitted therein to the extent indicated in the said clause and
provided free and compulsory education till completion of
elementary education. In respect of residential schools,
however, the applicability of clause (c) of sub-section (1) of
section 12 would be limited to day scholars, since only in
respect of day scholars can the neighbourhood criterion
apply.
3. The provisions of clause (c) of sub-section (1) of
section 12 of the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory
Education Act, 2009 shall not apply to the residential schools
which start admitting children at classes higher than class I.
4. The aforementioned Guideline may be brought to the
knowledge of all concerned for necessary compliance.
[* reported in (2012) 6 SCC 1
57. Article 41 of the Constitution of India contemplates the right to
work, to education, and to public assistance in certain cases. It provides
that the State shall, within the limits of its economic capacity and
development, make effective provision for securing these rights in cases
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of unemployment, old age, sickness, and disablement, as well as in other
cases of undeserved want.
58. Article 45 of the Constitution of India was also substituted by
Constitution (Eighty-Sixth Amendment) Act, 2002. Article 45 of the
Constitution of India before the amendment and after the amendment is
reproduced below:
Article 45 of the Constitution of India Article 45 of the Constitution of
before the amendment India after the amendment
45. Provision for free and compulsory 45. Provision for early childhood
education for children: care and education to children
below the age of six years:
The State shall endeavour to provide, The State shall endeavour to
within a period of ten years from the provide early childhood care and
commencement of this Constitution, for education for all children until they
free and compulsory education for all complete the age of six years.
children until they complete the age of
fourteen years.
59. Article 46 of the Constitution of India also provides for
promotion of educational and economic interests of Scheduled Castes,
Scheduled Tribes and other weaker sections. As per Article 46 of the
Constitution of India, the State is required to promote the educational and
economic interests of the weaker sections of society, particularly
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Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, and to protect them from social
injustice and exploitation.
60. Thus, there are numerous provisions in the Constitution which
mandate that education must be provided to children belonging to the
Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, and Backward Communities not
only under the Directive Principles of State Policy in Part IV of the
Constitution, but also under Part III, which deals with the Fundamental
Rights of the citizens.
61. Articles 15(6) and 16(6), referred to above, were perhaps
inserted in the Constitution because the Directive Principles of State
Policy are not enforceable, unlike the Fundamental Rights of the citizens.
62. The provisions of Section 35(1) of the Right of Children to Free
and Compulsory Education (RTE) Act, 2009 was the subject matter of
challenge in Society for Unaided Private Schools of Rajasthan (cited
supra).
63. The Hon’ble Supreme Court in Society for Unaided Private
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Schools of Rajasthan (cited supra) was concerned with the challenge to
the amendment to the Constitution of India by insertion of Article 15(6),
wherein it observed that Article 21A of the Constitution provides that the
State shall compulsorily education to all children of the specified age in
such manner as the State may, by law, determine. Thus, the primary
obligation to provide free and compulsory education to all children of the
specified age is on the State.
64. The Hon’ble Supreme Court in Society for Unaided Private
Schools of Rajasthan vs. Union of India and Another (cited supra),
pursuant to which the above Circular bearing F.No.1-3/2010-EE4, dated
13.07.2012 was issued and also referred to by the learned Additional
Solicitor General of Indian appearing for the first and third respondents,
deals with ‘Majority’ in paragraphs 64, 65 and 65-A, which read as under:
Conclusion (according to Majority)
64. Accordingly, we hold that the Right of Children
to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009 is
constitutionally valid and shall apply to the following:
(i) a school established, owned or controlled by the
appropriate Government or a local authority;
(ii) an aided school including aided minority
school(s) receiving aid or grants to meet whole or part of
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(iii) a school belonging to specified category; and
(iv) an unaided non-minority school not receiving
any kind of aid or grants to meet its expenses from the
appropriate Government or the local authority.
65. However, the said 2009 Act, and in particular
Sections 12(1)(c) and 18(3) infringes the fundamental
freedom guaranteed to unaided minority schools under
Article 30(1) and, consequently, applying the R.M.D.
Chamarbaugwalla v. Union of India [AIR 1957 SC 628 :
1957 SCR 930] principle of severability, the said 2009 Act
shall not apply to such schools.
65-A. This judgment will operate from today. In
other words, this will apply from academic year
2012-2013. However, admissions given by unaided
minority schools prior to the pronouncement of this
judgment shall not be reopened.
65. In paragraph 54, the Hon’ble Supreme Court has held as under
(according to Majority):
54. However, we want the Government to clarify the
position on one aspect. There are boarding schools and
orphanages in several parts of India. In those institutions,
there are day scholars and boarders. The 2009 Act could
only apply to day scholars. It cannot be extended to
boarders. To put the matter beyond doubt, we recommend
that appropriate guidelines be issued under Section 35 of
the 2009 Act clarifying the above position.
66. However, the minority view of the Hon’ble Supreme Court in
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the above case has ultimately concluded as follows:
311. (1) Article 21-A casts an obligation on the State
to provide free and compulsory education to children of the
age of 6 to 14 years and not on unaided non-minority and
minority educational institutions.
(2) Rights of children to free and compulsory
education guaranteed under Article 21-A and the RTE Act
can be enforced against the schools defined under Section
2(n) of the Act, except unaided minority and non-minority
schools not receiving any kind of aid or grants to meet their
expenses from the appropriate Government or local
authorities.
(3) Section 12(1)(c) is read down so far as unaided
non-minority and minority educational institutions are
concerned, holding that it can be given effect to only on the
principles of voluntariness, autonomy and consensus and
not on compulsion or threat of non-recognition or non-
affiliation.
(4) No distinction or difference can be drawn between
unaided minority and non-minority schools with regard to
appropriation of quota by the State or its reservation policy
under Section 12(1)(c) of the Act. Such an appropriation of
seats can also not be held to be a regulatory measure in the
interest of the minority within the meaning of Article 30(1)
or a reasonable restriction within the meaning of Article
19(6) of the Constitution.
(5) The appropriate Government and local authority
have to establish neighbourhood schools as provided in
Section 6 read with Sections 8 and 9, within the time-limit
prescribed in the statute.
(6) The duty imposed on parents or guardians under
Section 10 is directory in nature and it is open to them to
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admit their children in the schools of their choice, not
invariably in the neighbourhood schools, subject to
availability of seats and meeting their own expenses.
(7) Sections 4, 10, 14, 15 and 16 are held to be
directory in their content and application. The authorities
concerned shall exercise such powers in consonance with
the directions/guidelines laid down by the Central
Government in that behalf.
(8) The provisions of Section 21 of the Act, as
provided, would not be applicable to the schools covered
under sub-clause (iv) of clause (n) of Section 2. They shall
also not be applicable to the minority institutions, whether
aided or unaided.
(9) In exercise of the powers conferred upon the
appropriate Government under Section 38 of the RTE Act,
the Government shall frame rules for carrying out the
purposes of this Act and in particular, the matters stated
under sub-section (2) of Section 38 of the RTE Act [Ed.: In
exercise of powers confered by S. 38 of the RTE Act, 2009,
the Central Government has framed the Right of Children to
Free and Compulsory Education Rules, 2010 vide Ministry
of Human Resource Development (Deptt. of School
Education and Literacy), Notification No. G.S.R. 301 (E),
dt. 8-4-2010, published in the Gazette of India, Extra., Part
II, S. 3(i), dt. 9-4-2010, pp. 22-44, No. 180; see also2010
CCL III 384 [201].] .
(10) The directions, guidelines and rules shall be
framed by the Central Government, appropriate
Government and/or such other competent authority under
the provisions of the RTE Act, as expeditiously as possible
and, in any case, not later than six months from the date of
pronouncement of this judgment.
(11) All the State Governments which have not
constituted the State Advisory Council in terms of Section
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34 of the RTE Act shall so constitute the Council within
three months from today. The Council so constituted shall
undertake its requisite functions in accordance with the
provisions of Section 34 of the Act and advise the
Government in terms of clauses (6), (7) and (8) of this order
immediately thereafter.
(12) The Central Government and the State
Governments may set up a proper regulatory authority for
supervision and effective functioning of the Act and its
implementation.
(13) Madrasas, Vedic pathshalas, etc. which
predominantly provide religious instructions and do not
provide for secular education stand outside the purview of
the Act.
67. In the minority decision of the Hon’ble Supreme Court in
Society for unaided Private Schools of Rajasthan (cited supra) delivered
by then Hon’ble Justice Radhakrishnan, it was held that the right
guaranteed under Article 21-A is a socio-economic right and the Right to
Children to Free and Compulsory Education (RTE) Act, 2009 was enacted
to fulfil that right. The preamble and Parts III and IV of the Constitution
of India are often called and described as the ‘conscience of the
Constitution’ and they reflect our civil, political and socio-economic rights
which we have to protect for a just and humane society.
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68. It is further stated that the manner in which this obligation is to
be discharged by the State has been left to the State to determine by law.
The State may do so through its own schools, aided schools, or private
schools, so long as the law does not transgress any other constitutional
limitation. This is because Article 21A of the Constitution vests the power
in the State to decide the manner in which it will provide free and
compulsory education to children.
69. After the amendment to the Constitution of India by insertion of
Article 15(6) vide Section 2 of the Constitution (One Hundred and Third
Amendment Act, 2019, the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment,
Department of Social Justice and Empowerment, issued Office
Memorandum dated 17th January 2019 bearing reference F.No.
20013/01/2018-BC-II.
70. In the wake of the above amendment to the Constitution, the
Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Department of Social
Justice and Empowerment, has issued the Office Memorandum dated 17th
January 2019, bearing reference F.No.20013/01/2018-BC-II, and
decided to implement the mandate of the said amendment.
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71. The Government through Office Memorandum dated 17th
January 2019, bearing reference F.No.20013/01/2018-BC-II issued by
the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Department of Social
Justice and Empowerment, decided to provide 10% reservation to EWSs
in
i. civil posts and services in Government of India and
ii. admission in Educational Institutions.
72. The Office Memorandum also prescribes the criteria for
determining eligibility for reservation under the Economically Weaker
Sections (EWS) category. As per the said criteria, every educational
institution, with the prior approval of the appropriate authority, must
increase the number of seats over and above its annual permitted strength
in each branch of study or faculty, so that the number of seats available,
excluding those reserved for persons belonging to the EWS category, is
not less than the total number of seats available in the academic session
immediately preceding the date of the coming into force of the Office
Memorandum dated 17th January 2019, bearing reference F.No.
20013/01/2018-BC-II, issued by the Ministry of Social Justice and
Empowerment, Department of Social Justice and Empowerment.
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73. The text of the Office Memorandum dated 17th January 2019,
bearing reference F.No.20013/01/2018-BC-II, issued by the Ministry of
Social Justice and Empowerment, Department of Social Justice and
Empowerment, is reproduced below:
F. No.20013/01/2018-BC-II
Government of India
Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment
Department of Social Justice and Empowerment17th January, 2019
Shastri Bhawan, New DelhiOFFICE MEMORANDUM
Subject: Reservation for Economically Weaker Sections
(EWSs) in civil posts and services in the
Government of India and admission in
Educational Institutions.
In pursuance of insertion of clauses 15(6) and 16(6) in the
Constitution vide the Constitution (One Hundred and Third
Amendment) Act, 2019 and in order to enable the Economically
Weaker Sections (EWSs) who are not covered under the existing
scheme of reservations for the Scheduled Castes, the Scheduled
Tribes and the Socially and Educationally Backward Classes, to
receive the benefits of reservation on a preferential basis in civil
posts and services in the Government of India and admission in
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Educational Institutions, it has been decided by the
Government to provide 10% reservation to EWSs in civil posts
and services in Government of India and admission in
Educational Institutions.
2. Persons who are not covered under the existing scheme
of reservations for the Scheduled Castes, the Scheduled Tribes
and the Socially and Educationally Backward Classes and whose
family has gross annual income below Rs. 8.00 lakh are to be
identified as EWSs for the benefit of reservation. Family for this
purpose will include the person who seeks benefit of reservation,
his/her parents and siblings below the age of 18 years as also
his/her spouse and children below the age of 18 years. The
income shall include income from all sources i.e. salary,
agriculture, business, profession etc. and it will be income for the
financial year prior to the year of application. Also persons
whose family owns or possesses any of the following assets shall
be excluded from being identified as EWSs, irrespective of the
family income:
i. 5 acres of Agricultural Land and above;
ii. Residential flat of 1000 sq. ft, and above;
iii. Residential plot of 100 sq. yards and above in notified
municipalities;
iv. Residential plot of 200 sq. yards and above in areas other
than the notified municipalities.
3. The income and assets of the families as mentioned in
para 2 would be required to be certified by an officer not below
the rank of Tehsildar in the States/UTs. The officer who issues
the certificate would do the same after carefully verifying all
relevant documents following due process as prescribed by the
respective State/UT.
4. Every Educational Institution shall, with the prior
approval of the appropriate authority, increase the number of
seats over and above its annual permitted strength in each
branch of study or faculty so that the number of seats
available, excluding those reserved for the persons belonging
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to the EWSs, are not less than the total seats available in the
academic session immediately preceding the date of the
coming into force of this O.M.
5. Instructions regarding reservation in employment and
admission to educational institutions will be issued by DoPT
and Ministry of HRD respectively.
74. The above Office Memorandum dated 17th January 2019,
bearing reference F.No.20013/01/2018-BC-II, issued by the Ministry of
Social Justice and Empowerment, Department of Social Justice and
Empowerment, was intended to provide special reservation to persons
belonging to the Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) of society who are
outside the categories of Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, and
Socially and Educationally Backward Classes. No specific definition of
the term “educational institution” has been provided in the aforesaid
Office Memorandum.
75. A reading of the Office Memorandum dated 17th January
2019, bearing reference F.No.20013/01/2018-BC-II, issued by the
Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Department of Social
Justice and Empowerment, makes it clear that it has also prescribed the
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method for implementing the promise in the above amendment. The
aforesaid exercise has not excluded the respondent Sainik School. The
respondent Sainik School is not an institution, which is excluded under
any Notification.
76. The above Office Memorandum is intended to implement the
mandate introduced by the amendment to Article 15(6) and Article 16(6)
of the Constitution, vide the Constitution (One Hundred and Third
Amendment) Act, 2019, and cannot be ignored by the respondent Sainik
School.
77. Already, the Sainik Schools are following the Rules of
Reservation under the provisions of Constitution of India for students
belonging to Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Other Backward
Classes – Non-Creamy Layer. This is evident from the Brochure of Sainik
School, which is reproduced below:
(a) 15% of the seats are reserved for the category Scheduled
Caste (SC),
(b) 7.5% for the category Scheduled Tribe (ST) and
(c) 27% for the category Other Backward Classes belonging
to the Non-Creamy Layer (OBC-NCL) as per the central_______________
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W.P.(MD) No.26623 of 2024list.
78. The Respondent Sainik School which is run by the society
registered under the Societies Registration Act is thus required to
implement the mandate of the amendment to the Constitution of India by
insertion of Article 15(6) vide Constitution (One -Hundred and Third)
Amendment Act.
79. Text of the above Office Memorandum dated 17th January
2019, bearing reference F.No.20013/01/2018-BC-II, issued by the
Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Department of Social
Justice and Empowerment has also been incorporated in the Office
Memorandum dated 17.01.2019 bearing reference F.No.12-A/2019-U1
issued by the Government of India, Ministry of Human Resource
Development, Department of Higher Education for reservation for
Economically Weaker Sections (EWSs) for admission in Central
Educational Institutions. The said Office Memorandum dated 17.01.2019
bearing reference F.No.12-A/2019-U1 issued by the Government of India,
Ministry of Human Resource Development, Department of Higher
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Education reads as under:
F No: 12-4/2019-U1
Government of India
Ministry of Human Resource Development
Department of Higher Education
*****
Shastri Bhawan, New Delhi
Dated: 17th January, 2019OFFICE MEMORANDUM
Subject: Reservation for Economically Weaker Sections
(EWSs) for admission in Central Educational
Institutions.
In accordance with the provisions of the Constitution (One
Hundred and Third Amendment) Act 2019. and the reference of
Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment vide OM No.
20013/01/2018-BC-II dated 17th January 2019, enabling
provision of reservation for the Economically Weaker Sections
(EWSs) who are not covered under the existing scheme of
reservations for the Scheduled Castes, the Scheduled Tribes and
the Socially and Educationally Backward Classes, it has been
decided to provide reservation in admission to educational
institutions subject to a maximum of ten per cent of the total
seats in each category. This would not apply to the minority
educational institutions referred to in clause (1) of Article 30 of
the Constitution of India.
2. The provision of reservations to the Economically
Weaker Sections shall be in accordance with the directions
contained in the OM No.20013/01/2018-BC-II dated 17th
January 2019 of the Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment
and shall be subject to the following:
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W.P.(MD) No.26623 of 2024
a) The reservations shall be provided to EWSs for admission
in Central Educational Institutions, (as defined in clause
(d) of section (2) of The Central Educational Institutions
(Reservation in Admission) Act, 2006) from the academic
year 2019-20 onwards.
b) The above reservation would not be applicable to the 8
institutions of excellence, research institutions, institutions
of national & strategic importance as specified in the
Schedule to The Central Educational Institutions
(Reservation in Admission) Act, 2006, as amended from
time to time, and appended to this OM, and to the minority
educational institutions referred to in clause (1) of article
30 of the Constitution.
c) Every Central Educational Institution shall, with the
prior approval of the appropriate authority (as defined in
clause (c) of section 2 of The Central Educational
Institutions (Reservation in Admission) Act, 2006),
increase the number of seats over and above its annual
permitted strength in each branch of study or faculty so
that the number of seats available, excluding those
reserved for the persons belonging to the EWSs, is not less
than the number of such seats available, in each category,
for the academic session immediately preceding the date
of the coming into force of this O.M.
d) Where, on a representation by any Central Educational
Institution, the appropriate authority is satisfied that for
reasons of financial, physical or academic limitations or in
order to maintain the standards of education, the annual
permitted strength in any branch of study or faculty of
such institution cannot be increased for the academic
session following the commencement of this Act, it may
permit such institution to increase the annual permitted
strength over a maximum period of two years beginning
with the academic session following the commencement
of this Act; and then, the extent of reservation for the
Economically Weaker Sections shall be limited for that
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academic session in such manner that the number of seats
made available to the Economically Weaker Sections for
each academic session shall not reduce the number and the
percentage of reservations provided for SC/ST/OBC
categories.
e) The scheme for implementing the reservation for the EWS
shall be displayed on the website of the institution as soon
as possible, but no later than 31st March 2019.
3. The Chairman UGC, Chairman AICTE and Chairperson
NCTE and the Bureau Heads of the Department of Higher
Education in the Ministry of Human Resource Development
responsible for management of the Institutions of National
Importance are requested to ensure immediate compliance of this
OM.
4. This issues with the approval of the Minister for Human
Resource Development.
Encl: As above
80. The Appendix to the aforesaid Memorandum is a replica of the
Schedule mentioned above in the Central Educational Institutions
(Reservation in Admission) Act, 2006.
81. Thus, it is evident that the Constitution (One Hundred and Third
Amendment) Act amending the Constitution by insertion of Article 15(6)
and 15(6) to the Constitution of India has been implemented. No further
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notification or statutory device is required to implement the promise under
the the Constitution (One Hundred and Third Amendment) Act. The State
has to provide additional reservation of 10% to the Economically Weaker
Section [EWS] of the Society.
82. The argument of the Respondent that on the same date, yet
another Office Memorandum dated 17.01.2019 bearing reference F.No.
12-A/2019-U1 has been issued by Government of India, Ministry of
Human Resource Development, Department of Higher Education,
excluding certain other central educational institution as defined in The
Central Educational Institutions (Reservation in Admission) Act, 2006)
and therefore Sainik Schools need not provide Economic Weaker Sections
(EWSs) reservation cannot be countenanced.
83. The Office Memorandum dated 17.01.2019 bearing reference
F.No.12-A/2019-U1 issued by Government of India, Ministry of Human
Resource Development, Department of Higher Education to keep few
institutions outside the purview of EWS reservation, is of no consequence.
This is because in the exercise of power under Article 73 of the
Constitution of India, when read with Article 15(6) of the Constitution of
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India, the Central Government has decided to exclude Central Educational
Institutions (CEIs) as defined in the said act outside the purview of
Economically Weaker Section (EWS) reservation. By virtue of the Office
Memorandum dated 17.01.2019 bearing reference F.No.12-A/2019-U1
issued by Government of India, Ministry of Human Resource
Development, Department of Higher Education, only few Central
Educational Institutions (CEIs) have been kept out side the purview of
Economically Weaker Section (EWS) reservation.
84. The Hon’ble Supreme Court in Nagaraj and others Vs. Union
of India and others, reported in 2006 (8) SCC 212, has held that a
purposive rather than a strict approach should be adopted while
interpreting the provisions of the Constitution. It further held that a
Constitutional principle must not be constructed in a narrow and
constricted sense but in a liberal sense.
85. Reference to Paragraph No.54 of the majority decision of the
Hon’ble Supreme Court in Society for unaided Private Schools of
Rajasthan (cited supra) that the provisions of Right to Children to Free
and Compulsory Education (RTE) Act, 2009 will not apply to day scholar
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and that appropriate guidelines to be issued for the purpose of
implementing Section 35 of the Right to Children to Free and Compulsory
Education (RTE) Act, 2009 is of no relevance.
86. There has been no consequential amendment to guideline issued
vide aforesaid Office Memorandums dated 13.07.2012 and 17.01.2019
pursuant to the aforesaid decision in Society for unaided Private Schools
of Rajasthan (cited supra) of the Hon’ble Supreme Court in the context of
right to education.
87. Although, the Respondent Sainik School is a residential school,
there is nothing in Article 15(6) of the Constitution of India which
restricts its applicability to Right to Education in Sainik Schools pursuant
to the insertion of Article 15(6) of the Constitution of India vide
Constitution (One -Hundred and Third) Amendment Act.
88. It would have been different if an enactment was passed and a
provision similar to Section 12(1)(c) of the Right to Children to Free and
Compulsory Education (RTE) Act, 2009 was enforced. That being the
case, the interpretation by the learned Additional Solicitor General of
India cannot be countenanced.
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89. Therefore, the petitioner’s son is entitled to admission during the
current academic year 2025–2026 in the respondent Sainik School, and
the same cannot be denied merely because of the lapse of time for
admission at the respondent Sainik School. The respondents are,
therefore, directed to consider the application of the petitioner’s son under
the category of seats that were to be reserved for the Economically
Weaker Sections (EWS) and to strictly implement the Office
Memorandum dated 17th January 2019, bearing reference F.No.
20013/01/2018-BC-II, issued by the Ministry of Social Justice and
Empowerment, Department of Social Justice and Empowerment, in both
letter and spirit, without any equivocation.
90. In the light of the above, this Writ Petition is allowed with the
above observation. No costs. Consequently, the connected Miscellaneous
Petition is closed.
14.07.2025
JEN
Index : Yes
Internet : Yes
Neutral Citation : Yes
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W.P.(MD) No.26623 of 2024
To
1.The Secretary,
Government of India,
Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and
Pensions Department of Personnel and Training,
North Block, New Delhi 110 001.
2.The Secretary,
Sainik School Society,
New Delhi – 11.
3.The Secretary,
Ministry of Higher Education,
Government of India,
302-C, Shastri Bhawan, New Delhi.
4.The Secretary Ministry of Human Resource Development,
Government of India,
Shastri Bhawan, New Delhi.
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W.P.(MD) No.26623 of 2024
C.SARAVANAN, J.
JEN
W.P.(MD) No.26623 of 2024
and
W.M.P.(MD) No.22585 of 2024
14.07.2025
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