Kerala High Court
Afra Kabeer vs State Of Kerala on 26 November, 2025
Author: V.G.Arun
Bench: V.G.Arun
WP(C).No.44565/25
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2025:KER:93761
IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM
PRESENT
THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE V.G.ARUN
WEDNESDAY, THE 26TH DAY OF NOVEMBER 2025 / 5TH AGRAHAYANA, 1947
WP(C) NO. 44565 OF 2025
PETITIONER:
AFRA KABEER
AGED 16 YEARS (MINOR), D/O AHAMMED KABEER,
PARANKIMAMVILA VEEDU,
THETTIKAD, REPRESENTED BY LYNA PS, HEADMISTRESS
T.E.M.V.H.S.S, MYLODE PO,
POOYAPPALLY, KOLLAM, PIN - 691537
BY ADV SMT.RICHU THERESA ROBERT
RESPONDENTS:
1 STATE OF KERALA
REPRESENTED BY THE SECRETARY TO GOVERNMENT,
DEPARTMENT OF GENERAL EDUCATION, SECRETARIAT,
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, PIN - 695001
2 ORGANIZING COMMITTEE
KERALA SCHOOL TEACHERS ASSOCIATION KOTTARAKKARA SUB
DISTRICT KOLLAM, REPRESENTED BY ITS SECRETARY, PIN -
682018
WP(C).No.44565/25
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2025:KER:93761
3 CHAIRMAN OF THE APPEAL COMMITTEE
(KOLLAM REVENUE DISTRICT KALOLSAVAM), O/O THE DEPUTY
DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION, KOLLAM, THEVALLY P.O.,
KOLLAM, PIN - 691009
4 DISTRICT EDUCATION OFFICER, KOLLAM
CIVIL STATION, KOLLAM, KOLLAM CIVIL STATION P.O.,
KOLLAM, PIN - 691013
OTHER PRESENT:
SMT. AMMINIKUTTY SR.GP
THIS WRIT PETITION (CIVIL) HAVING COME UP FOR ADMISSION
ON 26.11.2025, THE COURT ON THE SAME DAY DELIVERED THE
FOLLOWING:
WP(C).No.44565/25
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2025:KER:93761
V.G.ARUN, J
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W.P.(C).No.44565 of 2025
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Dated Dated this the 26th day of November, 2025y of , 20
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JUDGMENT
The petitioner's team participated for Sangha Ganam (Arabic) HS Level Competition in the Veliyam Sub-District School Youth Festival held at Kottarakkara and secured second place with A Grade. Dissatisfied with the result, the petitioner filed an appeal, which the appeal committee rejected as per Ext.P4.
2. Learned counsel for the petitioner contended that award of marks was not proper and the appeal was rejected without properly appreciating the facts of the matter.
3. Learned Government Pleader contended that, innumerable number of appeals are filed after each competition item and members of the appeal committee being Government officials, have WP(C).No.44565/25 4 2025:KER:93761 other duties. They are also bestowed with the duties in connection with the election to the local bodies in the State and the ongoing Special Intensive Revision of the electoral roll. Therefore, failure to pass a detailed order cannot be taken as a ground for interfering with the decision.
4. A perusal of the order passed by the appeal committee shows that the order was passed after considering relevant aspects. The orders passed by a committee of this nature cannot be expected to be having the same standard as that of judicial or quasi- judicial bodies. Further, as held by this Court in Rhomy Chandra Mohan v. General Convenor [1992 KHC 211], this Court cannot sit in appeals over such orders in a proceeding under Article 226 of the Constitution of India. It is also not within the province of this Court to re-assess the merits or demerits of candidates, whose performance has been evaluated by competent judges. In this context it will be worthwhile to extract the following erudite exposition in Sweety v. State of Kerala [1994 KHC 216]; WP(C).No.44565/25 5
2025:KER:93761 "5. While dealing with these cases it came to my notice that there are functionaries like 'Judges', 'Appeal Committee', etc. functioning under the rules framed for the conduct of competitions. Those bodies cannot be equated with ordinary judicial or quasi judicial bodies. As pointed out earlier, they are purely internal bodies of the educational institutions intended to subserve discipline among students in situations where disputes are likely to occur. The exercise of their functions is completely confined to the field of Youth Festival where the discipline is absolutely necessary for the proper conduct of different competitions among the students. The decisions will have to be taken in certain cases on the spot and I fail to see how such decisions can be challenged in these proceedings. The assessment of performance of the participants are made by the 'judges'. Their wisdom and reason are final in such internal matters of educational institutions. However as an abundant caution the appeals are provided before the 'appeal committee' against the decision of the 'Judges'. The decision of the 'appeal committee' shall be accepted as conclusive and final by the students and all others. That is purely a matter of observance of internal discipline. This court, according to me, will not be justified in interfering with such assessment of performance made by the appeal committee in their discretionary powers."
5. Being in agreement with the above precedents and the petitioner having failed to make out any grossly vitiating WP(C).No.44565/25 6 2025:KER:93761 circumstance in the evaluation of the team's performance, the writ petition can only be dismissed.
The writ petition is accordingly dismissed.
sd/-
V.G.ARUN, JUDGE sj WP(C).No.44565/25 7 2025:KER:93761 APPENDIX OF WP(C) NO. 44565 OF 2025 PETITIONER EXHIBITS Exhibit P1 SCHOOL IDENTITY CARD OF THE PETITIONER Exhibit P2 TABULATION SHEET OF ARABIC SANGA GANAM HS SECTION DATED 19/11/2025 Exhibit P3 APPLICATION FOR APPEAL FILED ON 19/11/2025 Exhibit P4 ORDER OF THE APPEAL DATED 23/11/2025