IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB AND HARYANA AT CHANDIGARH Date of decision: 14.01.2026 Master Zaki Iqbal (Minor) through natural guardian father Sarvar Khan and another ….Petitioners Versus State of Punjab and others ….Respondents CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE KULDEEP TIWARI Present: Mr. Gaurav Chopra, Senior Advocate (Amicus Curiae) with Mr. Rishabh Bajaj, Advocate, Mr. Vardhan Sethi, Advocate.

Mr. Sahil R. Bakshi, AAG, Punjab.

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KULDEEP TIWARI, J. (Oral)

1. A 10-year-old child, through his father, has knocked the doors of this Court seeking issuance of directions to the respondent No.4- School to admit him in Class 3 under the 25% quota earmarked for children belonging to the weaker sections of society. The petitioner has further prayed for issuance of directions to the respondent No. 1 to ensure that free and compulsory elementary education, as envisaged under Section 12 of the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009 (hereinafter referred to as the ‘Act of 2009’), is made available to him by the respondent No. 4-School.

2. Succinctly stated, the petitioner was initially admitted to the respondent No.4-School in Class 1 under the “General” category, and at no point in