Is It Legal for Schools to Withhold Admit Cards or Results in India?

No. Schools cannot arbitrarily withhold admit cards or examination results. The Supreme Court has held that a student’s right to education cannot suffer due to fee disputes or administrative lapses.

The Calcutta High Court, in Akash Sinha v State of West Bengal, said that denying an admit card is arbitrary and violates Article 21.

Similarly, the Patna High Court observed that once a student appears in an examination, authorities cannot withhold results on technical grounds.

Courts have consistently said that students should not face academic loss for institutional failures. Unlawful withholding can invite judicial intervention and directions for immediate relief.