The High Court will not interfere in evaluations of performing arts without exceptional circumstances as expert bodies are better suited for such assessments.

IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM

PRESENT

THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE BECHU KURIAN THOMAS

MONDAY, THE 12^TH DAY OF JANUARY 2026 / 22ND POUSHA, 1947

WP(C) NO. 1040 OF 2026

PETITIONER:

ARONSHIV

AGED 13 YEARS

S/O. SACHEENDRAN K, VIDYA NIVAS, MULIYAR VIA,

KARADKA P.O, KARADKA, KASARGOD REPRESENTED BY HIS

FATHER SACHEENDRAN K, AGED 52 YEARS, S/O

KARUNAKARAN NAMBIAR N, VIDYA NIVAS, MULIYAR VIA,

KARADKA P.O, KARADKA, KASARGOD, PIN - 671542

BY ADV SMT.B.ANUSREE

RESPONDENTS:

1 DIRECTOR OF GENERAL EDUCATION

O/O THE DIRECTOR OF GENERAL EDUCATION, JAGATHY,

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, PIN - 695014

2 KALOLSAVAM COMMITTEE CONVENER

ADDITIONAL DIRECTOR OF GENERAL EDUCATION, O/O THE

ADDITIONAL DIRECTOR OF GENERAL EDUCATION, JAGATHY,

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, PIN - 695014

3 DISTRICT EDUCATIONAL OFFICER

O/O THE DISTRICT EDUCATIONAL OFFICER,

COLLECTORATE, VIDYANAGAR - ULIYATHADKA RD,

KASARAGOD, KERALA, PIN - 671121 4 CHAIRMAN APPEAL COMMITTEE

DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION, O/O DEPUTY DIRECTOR

OF EDUCATION, KASARAGODE DISTRICT, KERALA, PIN -

671121

OTHER PRESENT:

SRI. RAJEEV JYOTHISH GEORGE, GP THIS WRIT PETITION (CIVIL) HAVING COME UP FOR ADMISSION ON 12.01.2026, THE COURT ON THE SAME DAY DELIVERED THE FOLLOWING:

BECHU KURIAN THOMAS, J.

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W.P.(C) No. 1040 of 2026 ---------------------------------------------------

Dated this the 12^th day of January, 2026

JUDGMENT

Petitioner was a participant in the event 'Nadakam' in the Kasaragod District School Kalolsavam 2024-2025 along with his team. They secured 2^nd place. Aggrieved by the evaluation conducted, they preferred an appeal. By Ext.P4 order dated 02.01.2026, the appeal was rejected against which this writ petition has been preferred.

2. I have heard the learned counsel for the petitioner as well as the learned Government Pleader.

3. The main contention urged on behalf of the petitioner is that Nadakam performance on the day of the event was par excellence and they ought to have been awarded first place with A grade. Petitioner contended that the Judges erroneously placed petitioner's team in a wrong position due to a faulty evaluation, which is required to be set aside and the petitioner's team be placed in the first place.

4. The Appellate Authority considered his contentions and rejected the challenge. The appellate authority came to such a conclusion after verifying the score sheets, Stage Manager's report, videograph and also the evaluation sheet. The Appellate Authority also noted that the performance on the day of the event of the petitioner was not up to the mark as that of the first place holder.

5. Interference with the evaluation of a performance or the order of the Appellate Authority cannot be subjected to challenge in a writ petition, unless there are exceptional reasons. The contention that on the day of the event the performance of the petitioner was par excellence, is not a matter which can be appreciated by this Court under Article 226 of the Constitution of India . This Court does not have the expertise in appreciating or evaluating performing arts and cannot assess the performance of the candidates.

6. The learned counsel for the petitioner had pointed out that there was defect in the stage, which had affected the performance of the actors and also eroded their confidence. However, the learned counsel fairly submitted that the Best Actor award came to one of the team members of the petitioner's group which itself, according to me indicates that their performance was not affected by any so called defect in the stage. Even otherwise the appellate committee had considered the grievance raised and verified the records and thereafter came to the conclusion that the complaint raised by the petitioner had not affected the evaluation of the performance.

7. The evaluation of marks in an event, especially that relating to performing arts is always relative in nature. Even if one of the performers could be the best in the field, still, on a particular day, the quality of performance can