IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM PRESENT : THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE T.R.RAMACHANDRAN NAIR FRIDAY, THE 8TH JANUARY 2010 / 18TH POUSHA 1931 WP(C).No. 475 of 2010(H) ------------------------------------ PETITIONER(S): ---------------------- ST.ANT0NY'S HIGHER SECONDARY SCHOOL, KACHERIPADY, ERNAKULAM, REP. BY ITS PRINCIPAL SMT.SABEENA. BY ADV. SMT.K.LATHA RESPONDENT(S): ------------------------- 1. THE DIRECTOR, HIGHER SECONDARY EDUCATION FOR STATE LEVEL HIGHER SECONDARY YOUTH FESTIVAL AND SPORTS MEET ORGANISING COMMITTEE, HOUSING BOARD BUILDING, SANTHI NAGAR, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM. 2. THE GENERAL CONVENOR, KERALA HIGHER SECONDARY EDUCATION FOR STATE LEVEL HIGHER SECONDARY YOUTH FESTIVAL MEET ORGANISING COMMITTEE, CALICUT. 3. THE APPELLATE AUTHORITY, ERNAKULAM DISTRICT LEVEL HIGHER SECONDARY YOUTH FESTIVAL, ERNAKULAM. R1 BY GOVERNMENT PLEADER MR.P.N. SANTHOSH. THIS WRIT PETITION (CIVIL) HAVING COME UP FOR ADMISSION ON 08/01/2010,THE COURT ON THE SAME DAY DELIVERED THE FOLLOWING: rs. T.R. Ramachandran Nair, J. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - W.P.(C) No. 475 of 2010-H - - - - -- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Dated this the 8th day of January, 2010. JUDGMENT The petitioner is the Principal of St. Antony’s Higher Secondary School, Kacheripady, Ernakulam. A team of 10 students from the petitioner’s school participated in the Oppana competition in Ernakulm District Level Higher Secondary Youth Festival conducted in SRV Girls High School on 2.1.2010. The team represented by the petitioner's school got A Grade in the said competition and the first prize was given to another school thereby they became eligible to participate in the State Youth Festival from Ernakulam District. The petitioner alleges that it was due to extraneous reasons that the first prize was given to the said school, as there was some private caucus between their dance master and the judges. It is the case of the petitioner that the petitioner’s team performed very well and were entitled to get first prize. There is an allegation against the programme committee also, as they did not allow the petitioner’s dance master to enter into the stage for arranging the stage before starting the programme and allowed the other dance master to do so. 2. Immediately after announcement of the result, the petitioner’s team wpc475 /2010 2 had filed an appeal before the appeal committee. In the said appeal, the petitioner complained that there was some problem in the sound system provided to the petitioner. More over, the stage's condition was so pathetic because of its worn condition and after the programme of the petitioner’s team, they shifted the programme from that stage. It is the case of the petitioner that the appeal committee purposely delayed passing orders on the appeal, so as to defeat the chance of the petitioner’s team in participating in the State level youth festival. Learned counsel for the petitioner therefore prays that a direction may be issued to allow the petitioner’s team to participate in the State Level Youth Festival. 3. Going by the averments in the writ petition, no serious infirmities have been pointed out with regard to the assignment of marks to the petitioner and the other participants. The allegation of bias is also not proved by cogent evidence. This Court will be loath to interfere in such matters unless sufficient grounds are made out. There is a difference in 19 marks. Therefore, the writ petition is dismissed. (T.R. Ramachandran Nair, Judge.) kav/