Parents to move HC as CBSE cancels affiliation of DPS East

The school's affiliation was cancelled for violating govt norms

Image source: dpseast-ahd.edu.in Image source: dpseast-ahd.edu.in

A day after the CBSE cancelled affiliation of Delhi Public School, East, in Ahmedabad for allegedly violating government norms, parents are contemplating to file a public interest litigation in the Gujarat High Court. The school recently ran into controversy after it was found to have leased out a portion of its land to controversial Godman Nithyananda. 

Nithyananda, who is facing rape charges in Bengaluru, is again in the news after a resident of Tamil Nadu filed a habeas corpus in the Gujarat High Court. The resident had alleged that his two adult daughters were forcefully kept by the Godman in his ashram. The girls, on the other hand, held that they were staying back on their own and also alleged that their father had pressurised them to file a rape case against Nithyananda.

When the police and the state government started inquiring into how the school could lease out a portion of the land for the ashram, other alleged inquiries came to the fore. It also emerged that the school had not converted agriculture land into non-agriculture land and not obtained a no-objection certificate from the state government. It is also alleged that the school had forged the no-objection certificate to get CBSE affiliation.

Worried parents on Monday held a meeting with the school principal and there are reports that they might file a PIL in the High Court. There are more than 800 students in the school. The CBSE, while canceling the affiliation on Sunday, said that students of class X and XII will be allowed to attend board examinations. Rest of the students will be accommodated in other nearby schools. 

However, in the letter issued by the CBSE, there is no mention on what would happen to the teachers. 

One of the parents, Shoab Shekhwali, said that they would want that the school continues to function and their wards study in the same school.

DPS, East, is managed by Kalorex Foundation which also runs several Delhi Public Schools, including DPS, Bopal, in Ahmedabad that is considered one of the best schools in the city. 

Meanwhile, Kalorex Foundation head Manjula Pooja Shroff, former trustee Hiten Vasant and former principal of DPS, East, Anita Dua, have sought anticipatory bail in the case. The police had filed a case against them for allegedly forging documents. 

About a year ago, DPS, Bopal, along with other schools of the state was under scanner of the education department over fees. A section of parents had alleged that the fees were being charged on the higher side. The state government then formed a committee which, in turn, recommended a fee structure. 

According to sources, DPS, Bopal, is yet to return the differential amount of the stipulated fees mentioned by the committee and the fee it had earlier charged.

In a related development, disciples of Nithyanada vacated the ashram after the DPS, East, canceled the lease deed with it.

TAGS