IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM PRESENT THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE DEVAN RAMACHANDRAN TUESDAY, THE 9^TH DAY OF JANUARY 2024 / 19TH POUSHA, 1945 WP(C) NO. 43761 OF 2023 PETITIONER:

RAEESA FATHIMA T.R.,(MINIOR)

AGED 15 YEARS D/O RAFEEQ, REPRESENTED BY FATHER RAFEEQ.T.B,THANDASSERI HOUSE, ERIYAD, KODUNGALLUR P.O.,THRISSUR DISTRICT., PIN -

680665 BY ADV S.R.SREEJITH RESPONDENTS:

1 STATE OF KERALA REPRESENTED BY ITS SECRETARY, GENERAL EDUCATION DEPARTMENT, GOVERNMENT SECRETARIAT, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, PIN - 695001

2 ORGANIZING COMMITTEE KERALA SCHOOL KALOLSAVAM 2023-2024, REPRESENTED BY ITS GENERAL CO-COORDINATOR, DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTIONS,GENERAL EDUCATION DEPARTMENT, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, PIN - 695001

3 THE CHAIRMAN APPEAL COMMITTEE FOR KERALA SCHOOL KALOLSAVAM 2023-2024, DEPUTY DIRECTOR DDE OFFICE, THRISSUR, PIN - 680003

4 THE GENERAL CONVENER PROGRAMME COMMITTEE, DEPUTY DIRECTOR DDE OFFICE, THRISSUR., PIN - 680003 SMT. VIDYA KURIAKOSE, GP THIS WRIT PETITION (CIVIL) HAVING COME UP FOR ADMISSION ON

09.01.2024, THE COURT ON THE SAME DAY DELIVERED THE FOLLOWING:

JUDGMENT The petitioner says that she participated in an event in the ‘District School Kalolsavam’, but was not awarded the First Rank; thus denying her the opportunity of moving to the next level, namely the ‘State Kalolsavam’, which has now been completed.

2. The petitioner asserts that the results of the ‘District Level Kalolsavam’ were egregiously improper and therefore, that she preferred an Appeal before the Statutory Appellate Committee, as is provided under the Manual relating to the ‘Revenue District Kalolsavam’; but that the said Committee has rejected it, through the impugned order, without citing tenable reasons, but on hyper technical grounds.

3. The petitioner, therefore, prays that the impugned order be set aside and that she be allowed to participate in the ‘Kerala State School Kalolsavam’.

4. Hearing the learned counsel for the petitioner in this case, at the time when this matter was considered for admission and adverting to the allegations and assertions made and contentions impelled, this Court passed an interim order, allowing the petitioner to participate in the ‘State Kalolsavam’, however, clarifying that it will only be provisional. It was also made clear in the said order that, if the petitioner is to obtain Rank Nos.1, 2 or 3, same shall be declared only after obtaining orders from this Court.

5. The ‘State School Kalolsavam’ was completed on 08.01.2024 and this Court is now told that the petitioner has not obtained any of the first three ranks; and that all results have been declared, with the Kannur District being adjudged the Cup Winner.

6. Obviously, therefore, all which now remains is to consider whether the petitioner is entitled to the benefit of any grace marks that she may obtain through her performance, pursuant to the interim order of this Court.

7. Though, as I have already said above, the interim order clearly provided that the performance of the petitioner would be provisional, I am of the view that since she has performed, any resultant benefit that can inure to her, ought not to be denied. This is because, the best that the petitioner would obtain is only grace marks, depending upon whether she has obtained ‘A Grade’ or otherwise; and I do not think that it will be justified for this Court to deny that to the contestants, solely for the reason that their Appeal had been dismissed at the ‘Revenue District School Kalolsavam’ level. The interim order by this Court was issued after due thought and finding a prima facie case in favour of the petitioner; but since she has not been able to obtain the first of the three ranks, I am of the firm view that it would not be necessary for this Court to enter into the merits of any other rival contentions.

8. Obviously, therefore, all which this Court has to now do is to confirm the interim order, so that the petitioner would obtain all collateral benefits entitled, based on her performance in the ‘St