MP High Court Seeks Centre's Response On Plea Claiming Exclusion Of EWS Quota In Navodaya Vidyalaya Admissions

The Madhya Pradesh High Court, on Tuesday (March 17), sought a reply from the Union Government in a petition claiming exclusion of quota for economically weaker section (EWS) students from the admission framework in Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas.

The bench of Justice Vishal Mishra observed;

"Shri S. M. Guru, Dy. Solicitor General appears on advanced notice for the respondents. Let a copy of the petition along with annexure be supplied to him to enable him to seek instruction and file response to the petition. Name of the counsel appearing for respondents be reflected in the cause list. List in the next week for consideration".

The petition has been filed by a nine-year-old Class V student through her guardian, Advocate Dheeraj Tiwari.

According to the petition, the respondent authorities issued an advertisement inviting applications for admission to Class VI through Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya Selection Test for the academic session of 2025-26 in schools run by the Navodaya Vidyalaya Samiti under the Ministry of Education.

The advertisement, the petition stated, included a reservation of seats clause providing quotas for scheduled caste (SC), scheduled tribes (ST) and other backward classes (OBC), rural candidates and other specific categories.

However, the petition stated that the policy failed to make any provision for the reservation of EWS candidates. This omission was arbitrary and violative of Article 15(6) of the Constitution of India, which enables reservation for economically weaker sections.

The plea further highlighted that another school under the Ministry of Education- Kendriya Vidalaya Sangathan- provided for reservation for the EWS. This contrast between the two schools, both governed by the same ministry but applying different reservation criteria, results in an unreasonable and discriminatory classification of similarly situated students.

The petition further stated that denying EWS candidates any reservation in Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas defeats the constitutional objectives of social justice and inclusive education. The petition also asserted that the respondents, being "State" under Article 12 of the Constitution, had an obligation to ensure equality, fairness and non-discrimination in their policies.

The petitioner, as a relief, sought a declaration that the reservation of seats clause in the admission policy, so far as it excludes the EWS candidates, is arbitrary and unconstitutional.

Additionally, a direction was sought to consider the petitioner's candidature for admission to class VI by extending the benefit of EWS reservation, subject to the outcome of this petition.

Case Title: Navya Tiwari v Union [WP-8878-2026]

For Petitioner: Advocate Vikas Mishra

Click here to read/download the Order