IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB AND HARYANA AT CHANDIGARH CWP-39555-2025 Date of Decision : 08.01.2026 LAWRENCE INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL AND ANOTHER .....Petitioners VERSUS UNION OF INDIA AND OTHERS .....Respondents CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE KULDEEP TIWARI Present : Mr. Mandeep Singh Sachdev, Sr. Advocate assisted by Mr. Rahul Shama, Advocate, for the petitioner.

Mr. Beant Singh Seemar, Advocate with Mr. Ranjodh Singh, Advocate, for respondents no.2 and 3.

KULDEEP TIWARI, J.(Oral)

1. Through the instant writ petition filed under Article 226/227 of the Constitution of India, a prayer is made for issuance of a direction upon the respondents to regularise and approve the direct admission of petitioner no.2, who is a student of Class-XII, to register and enroll her as a bona fide candidate of petitioner no.1-School, and to include her name in the List of Candidates (LOC), and also to permit her to appear in the ensuring CBSE Class XII Board Examinations which is sloted to commence from 18.02.2026.

2. Learned senior counsel for the petitioners, submits that petitioner no.1-School granted admission to petitioner no.2 in Class XII (Non- Medical), as her father was transferred from Amritsar to Jalandhar due to employment exigencies and it was not feasible to leave the minor daughter alone in Amritsar.

3. He fairly submits that there is a delay on the part of petitioner no.1-School to take apposite remedial measures to get post facto approval within one month from the CBSE, therefore, for the lapse on the part of the ministerial staff of petitioner no.1-school, the career of petitioner no.2, cannot be put to prejudice.

4. He further submits that petitioner no.1-school, is ready to bear the cost which is to be recovered by the CBSE for disrupting the ongoing examination schedule while accepting the prayer (supra).

5. On an advance notice, Mr. Beant Singh Seemar, Advocate, has caused appearance on behalf of contesting respondents no.2 and 3, and took a serious objection to the effect that petitioner no.1-school, failed to take remedial measures by applying for ex post facto approval. Further, the last date of submission of form was dated 02.09.2025, which has not been adhered to, and their application which has already been rejected in December, 2025, and such rejection order has not been challenged.

6. Be that as it may be, the objection which has been raised by contesting respondents no.2 and 3, before this Court, are purely procedural and clerical in nature, and for the lapse on the part of petitioner no.1-School, the career of petitioner no.2-student, cannot be put to prejudice, however, the balance of equity tilts in favour of petitioner no.2-student, therefore, the instant petition is disposed of with a mandamus upon respondents no.2 and 3-CBSE to forthwith regularise and approve direct admission of petitioner no.2-student, to register and enrol as a bona fide candidate of petitioner no.1-school, to include her name in the List of Candidates (LOC), and to permit her to appear in the ensuring CBSE Class XII Board Examinations commencing from

18.02.2026.

7. However, respondents no.2 and 3-CBSE, are at liberty to impose exemplary cost upon petitioner no.1-school, for the lapse on their part.

8. Disposed of accordingly.

(KULDEEP TIWARI)

January 08, 2026 JUDGE dharamvir Whether speaking/reasoned. : Yes/No Whether Reportable. : Yes/No