The Hindu : New Delhi News : DPS Dwarka served show-cause notice

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Jun 22, 2006

New Delhi

New Delhi

DPS Dwarka served show-cause notice

Staff Reporter

For denying admission to a girl despite her being a Delhi topper

NEW DELHI: In a major crackdown on erring schools, the State Education Department on Wednesday served a notice on the prestigious St. Columba's School terminating its recognition from April 1, 2007.

It also issued a show-cause notice to the Dwarka branch of Delhi Public School for denying admission to a poor child despite her being the Delhi topper in the Class X examinations conducted by the Central Board of Secondary Education.

Education Minister Arvinder Singh Lovely said St. Columba's had been served the de-recognition notice after it was discovered during audit of its accounts that it had not only diverted funds to its sister organisations in violation of the Delhi School Education Act but also recruited unqualified teachers by throwing all norms to the wind. During inspection by the Education Department it was found that it had diverted Rs. 1.83 crores from its funds to its sister organisations and could not offer a satisfactory explanation for such an exercise.

The Department had also been receiving complaints from parents that the school hiked the annual fees in an arbitrary manner despite having surplus funds.

According to the rules, any schools having surplus funds cannot hike the fee. ``The school is not functioning in accordance with the provisions of law and the instructions of the Department issued from time to time.

Therefore, action under 24(4) needs to be taken and it is ordered that the recognition of St. Columba's School, Ashok Road, be withdrawn for violating the conditions of recognition.

Keeping in view the future of the children studying in the school, particularly in Class X and XII who are due to appear for CBSE examinations in March 2007, the recognition of the schools has been withdrawn from April 1, 2007. This will enable the children to appear at CBSE examination in March 2007 and give sufficient time to the parents to withdrawn their wards and make alternative arrangements, the order issued by Direction (Education) Vijay Kumar stated.

In the other case, the Department has served a notice on DPS Dwarka for denying admission to a poor child on the excuse that her command over English was poor.

The school has been asked to explain why action should not be taken against it for adopting such a discriminatory approach towards children who belong to poor families.

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