Madras High Court Upholds Medical Fitness Criteria for Sainik School Admissions

Petitioner's Challenge to Eye Standard Rejected; SOP Found Valid and Non-Discriminatory

In a significant ruling, the Madras High Court dismissed a writ petition challenging the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for medical fitness criteria in admissions to Sainik Schools. The petitioner, M.R. Yajith Krishna, a 12-year-old aspiring student, was declared medically unfit due to not meeting the prescribed eye standards, despite securing high marks in the entrance examination.

Presiding Judge Mr. G.K. Ilanthiraiyan emphasized the importance of stringent medical standards for Sainik Schools, which serve as feeder institutions for the National Defence Academy and the Indian Naval Academy. The judge upheld the SOP as valid and non-discriminatory, asserting its necessity for ensuring candidates meet the physical requirements for future military roles.

The petitioner argued that the rejection based on medical fitness violated his constitutional rights under Article 21 and Sections 3, 4, and 16 of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016. However, the court ruled that the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act and the Right to Education Act are not applicable to Sainik Schools, which are under the Ministry of Defence.

The court noted that the petitioner had accepted the SOP by participating in the admission process and undergoing multiple medical examinations. After the initial examination at Coimbatore Medical College Hospital deemed him unfit, a subsequent review at the Military Hospital, Chennai, confirmed the same findings. The petitioner’s visual acuity was above the prescribed limits for Standard-II, leading to the rejection of his candidature.

This decision reinforces the autonomy of Sainik Schools in setting admission criteria aligned with their mission to prepare students for military service. The ruling also underscores the court’s stance on non-interference in specialized educational institutions governed by the Ministry of Defence.

Bottom Line:

Admission to Sainik Schools - Medical fitness criteria under Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for All India Sainik School Admission Counselling (AISSAC) upheld as valid and non-discriminatory - Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016 and Right to Education Act not applicable to Sainik Schools functioning under the Ministry of Defence. 

Statutory provision(s): Article 21 of the Constitution of India, Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016 Sections 3, 4, 16, Right to Education Act

M.R.Yajith Krishna v. Union of India, (Madras) : Law Finder Doc Id # 2783795