High Court asks Centre to respond to PIL seeking 23 new JNVs across Telangana

The petitioner urged the Court to direct the Union Ministry of Education and Navodaya Vidyalaya Samiti to establish 23 additional JNVs to ensure that each of the 32 rural districts has one such institution.

By Legal Correspondent

Hyderabad: Acting Chief Justice Sujoy Paul and Justice Renuka Yara of the Telangana High Court on Monday directed the Additional Solicitor General of India to seek instructions from Union Government and respond to a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) seeking the establishment of Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas (JNVs) in all districts of Telangana, except Hyderabad.

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The PIL, filed by B. Vinod Kumar, former Member of Parliament and former Vice Chairman of the State Planning Board, contended that despite the reorganisation of Telangana into 33 districts, only nine JNVs continue to function, corresponding to the pre-bifurcation districts.

The petitioner urged the Court to direct the Union Ministry of Education and Navodaya Vidyalaya Samiti to establish 23 additional JNVs to ensure that each of the 32 rural districts has one such institution.

Senior counsel J. Ramachandra Rao, appearing for the petitioner, argued that the continued failure to establish JNVs in the remaining districts violates Article 21A of the Constitution, which guarantees the right to free and compulsory education.

The petitioner also challenged the notification for admissions to Class VI for the academic year 2026–2027, which was restricted to the existing nine JNVs, excluding the newly sanctioned ones.

The Bench took note of the submissions and recorded that a copy of the petition, along with annexures, would be furnished to the Additional Solicitor General (ASG) representing the Union Government. The Court permitted the ASG to seek instructions in the meantime and adjourned the matter for two weeks.