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New Delhi: After a surprise inspection unveiled serious safety and financial concerns, the Delhi Government has served a Show Cause Notice to the school management of a private school in Vikaspuri. The school was found to be illegally operating 43 classrooms, running huge unauthorized structures of tin, conducting illegal groundwater extraction, violating labor rights of teachers by delaying their meager salaries and implementing illegal fee hikes, and conducting senior secondary classes without recognition.
Delhi Education Minister, Shri Ashish Sood, has issued orders to the Department of Education to take the most stringent possible action against the management of the school.
The school has been given 7 (Seven) days to submit their response to the Show Cause Notice, failing which Government shall proceed to take over the school.
In the Statement of Shri Ashish Sood, Education Minister of Delhi:
"Safety of our Children is our top most priority, and our Government has a zero tolerance policy on any action that compromises the safety of our children. This school was operating 43 illegal fire safety-cleared classrooms, putting the safety of thousands of children at great risk every single day. We will take all steps, including a complete Government takeover of the school, when a school builds hazardous structures, compromises the safety of children, and violates the law."
MAIN VIOLATIONS
A surprise inspection conducted by the Department of Education (DoE) revealed a total collapse of the safety and financial operations of the school.
Extreme Fire Safety & Construction Hazards
The school had a Fire NOC for 39 rooms; however, it was operating 82 rooms, effectively running 43 fire safety violation classrooms. The inspection also noted the following:
- A large, unapproved, multi-room (30 rooms) tin shed.
- An illegal basement.
- An unapproved third floor.
- Blocked Emergency Escapes
Some classrooms only had a single exit door. The only open passage for fire engines and other emergency vehicles was completely obstructed.
Illegal Extraction of Groundwater
The school had an illegal borewell on the campus, and no consent was provided. This went against environmental regulations as well as the National Green Tribunal (NGT) regulations.
Expired Recognition of Senior Secondary
The provisional recognition for the Senior Secondary classes was valid until March 31, 2023, and the classes were allegedly continuing beyond this date without recognition, operating for over three years, to the possible detriment of the academic interests of students.
Illegal Revision of Fees and Imposition of Surcharges
The inspection noted that the school unilaterally and repeatedly increased the fees even during the COVID-19 pandemic, with an unauthorized revision of fees by over 20 to 25 percent, and also doubled the "Smart Classroom Fees" without any approval, worsening the financial situation for the parents.
Staff Exploitation
The school allegedly did not pay the staff on time and did not pay the teachers and staff on time and did not even pay them the minimum prescribed amount.
Survey and Management
Nepotism and Poor Management
The survey also revealed that the governing body of the school consisted of a large number of family members, raising concerns of conflict of interest. The management did not provide any identification to resolve the issues.
Proposed Strict Actions
The Directorate of Education has asked school management to justify why the following measures should not be implemented:
Government Seizure
Immediate seizure of school management by the Delhi Government under Section 20 of the Delhi School Education Act (DSEA), 1973.
Cancellation of Land Lease
Initiating the process at the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) to cancel the lease of the public land allotted to the school at high subsidy.
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