Heard learned counsel for the parties, considered the case file and also interacted with Ms. Kirti Panwar, Deputy Commissioner, Navodaya Vidyalaya Samiti, Mr. Raj Singh, Principal, Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya, Una and Mr. Rajesh Kumar, Principal, Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya, Kangra, present in person.

2. Admitted position of facts is as under:-

2(i). Petitioner is resident of Village Upper Swana, Post Office Swana, Tehsil Jaswan, District Kangra. She studied in DAV Public Model School, Kalu Di Bar, District Una, located statedly at a distance of 1.5 Kilometers from her village, which falls in rural area, but in District Kangra. Petitioner passed out Class V from the aforesaid DAV Public Model School. According to the respondents’ officials, who are present in person, distance between Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya (JNV), Pekhubela, District Una and petitioner’s residence in District Kangra is though more than 1.5 kilometres, but less than 10 kilometres.

2(ii). After passing Class V from the aforesaid school in District Una, petitioner applied for admission to Class VI in respondent No.5-JNV, Pekhubela, District Una. She appeared in the admission test. On 27.03.2025 (Annexure P-1), respon