High Court sets aside order allowing co-education at Erattupetta girls' school and orders status quo

8 October 2026

A Division Bench of Justice Anil K. Narendran and Justice Muralee Krishna S. set aside a Single Bench order on co-education at the Muslim Girls' Higher Secondary School, Erattupetta.
The Single Bench had directed the Erattupetta Municipality Secretary to grant approval within 3 days, failing which the school could proceed without it.
The writ appeal was filed by the manager of a nearby boys' school and another appellant.
The Bench sent the school's writ petition back to the Single Bench for fresh consideration, and the appellants and teachers of the nearby boys' school may implead themselves.
The school's petition challenges a government circular that requires local body approval for introducing co-education in single-gender schools.
As 28 boy students from Class 5 to Class 10 had already been admitted, the Bench ordered status quo until the writ petition is decided on merits.
The Division Bench passed the order on 8 October 2026; it was reported on 11 and 12 October 2026.