$~69 * IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI AT NEW DELHI + W.P.(C) 3469/2026 NISHANT GAROLIYA (MINOR), THROUGH NATURAL GUARDIAN/FATHER .....Petitioner Through: Mr. Anurag, Ms. Sonal Gupta, Mr. Divyansh Kumar, Advs. versus SAINIK SCHOOLS SOCIETY & ANR. .....Respondents Through: Mr. Chetan Sharma, ASG Ms. Avshreya Pratap Singh Rudy, CGSC with Mr. Abhishek Mahajan, SPC with Mr. Amit Gupta, SPC with Mr. Ankit Khatri, Ms. Usha Jamnal, Ms. Nyasa Sharma, Advs. for R1 Mr. Akshit Mohan, Adv. and Government Pleader for Union of India Mr. Sanjay Khanna, SC with Ms. Pragya Bhushan, Ms. Vilakshana Dayma, Ms. Anshu Kumari, Mr. Saurabh Pandey Advs. for R2/NTA CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE JASMEET SINGH O R D E R % 27.03.2026 1. This is a writ petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India seeking the following prayers:- “i. Issue a writ of mandamus directing the Respondents to permit the Petitioner to register and participate in the counseling process for admission to Class VI for academic year 2026 as per merit/category/domicile and seat This is a digitally signed order. The authenticity of the order can be re-verified from Delhi High Court Order Portal by scanning the QR code shown above. The Order is downloaded from the DHC Server on 30/03/2026 at 16:32:53 availability; ii. Pass an interim order directing provisional registration/consideration of the Petitioner in the ongoing counselling/medical process and to protect the Petitioner’s admission claim during pendency of the petition;…” 2. The case of the petitioner is that the application form for the All India Sainik Schools Entrance Examination (“AISSEE”) was released on 10.10.2025 and the last date to apply was 30.10.2025, which was extended vide public notice till 09.11.2025 and the correction window was also extended. 3. The examination was held on 18.01.2026 and the petitioner appeared for AISSEE-2026 for admission to Class VI under the category OBC (Non-Creamy Layer) (Central List). 4. It is the case of the petitioner that, All India Sainik Schools Admission Counselling (AISSAC)-2026 commenced on 22.01.2026, prior to declaration of result and applicants were not informed that counselling registration was to be mandatorily completed even before the declaration of result. On 21.02.2026, a public notice was issued informing that registration and correction commenced on 22.01.2026 and is extended up to 1000 hours on 28.02.2026. 5. The AISSEE-2026 result was declared on 27.02.2026 and the petitioner secured 266 marks out of 300. 6. It is the case of the petitioner that due to lack of awareness and the counselling schedule being effectively disconnected from result declaration, the petitioner could not register before closure at 1000 hours on 28.02.2026. This is a digitally signed order. The authenticity of the order can be re-verified from Delhi High Court Order Portal by scanning the QR code shown above. The Order is downloaded from the DHC Server on 30/03/2026 at 16:32:53 7. On 05.03.2026, it was notified that list of shortlisted candidates is 3 times the vacancy and medical examination is only for those who registered on AISSAC portal registration. Thus, the petitioner was excluded for want of portal registration. 8. Hence, the present petition. 9. Mr. Sharma, learned ASG along with Ms. Rudy, learned CGSC for the respondent No. 1, has handed over an email dated 26.03.2026 from the respondent No. 1, which reads as under:- This is a digitally signed order. The authenticity of the order can be re-verified from Delhi High Court Order Portal by scanning the QR code shown above. The Order is downloaded from the DHC Server on 30/03/2026 at 16:32:53 10. A perusal of the email, reproduced above, shows that the respondent No. 1 has been fair and neutral and accommodating and has reopened the window for registration from 30.03.2026 (Monday) to 01.04.2026 (Wednesday) to facilitate the candidates, who could not avail earlier registration window of 38 days. 11. Additionally, paragraph Nos. 3.2 and 3.3 of the email, reproduced above, shows that the respondent No. 1 has clearly stated that this relaxation is only a one-time measure due to the respondent No. 1 adopting a child centric approach and will not create any equities. 12. The stand of the respondent No. 1is well appreciated by the Court and This is a digitally signed order. The authenticity of the order can be re-verified from Delhi High Court Order Portal by scanning the QR code shown above. The Order is downloaded from the DHC Server on 30/03/2026 at 16:32:53 the respondent No. 1shall be bound by the email handed over in the Court today. 13. In this view of the matter, the petitioner is at liberty to apply for registration, which the same shall be processed in accordance with extant rules of the respondent No. 1. 14. In view of the stand of the respondent No. 1 and in view of the fact that the petitioner is entitled to re-register himself, the petition has become infructuous and is accordingly disposed of. 15. The email dated 26.03.2026 handed over in the Court today is taken on record. 16. Dasti. JASMEET SINGH, J MARCH 27, 2026/sp This is a digitally signed order. The authenticity of the order can be re-verified from Delhi High Court Order Portal by scanning the QR code shown above. The Order is downloaded from the DHC Server on 30/03/2026 at 16:32:53