School not following RTE Act: NCPCR

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, November 3

Responding to a complaint filed by RTI activist Varun Khanna about a prominent city-based school violating Section 18 of the Right to Education Act and CBSE affiliation bye-law, the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) has written to the DC office to take cognisance of the matter. The issue was brought to light after Varun Khanna had written to NCPCR, responding to which the NCPCR has asked for a complete report of enquiry within 30 days of the receipt of the letter.

Khanna said that he had complaint to NCPCR in August regarding the violations by the school and the DEO office had also imposed a fine on the school for the violations. “The school has been running its junior wing branch in Cantonment since 1996 without proper affiliation and recognition from the authorities concerned. The DEO Elementary office had imposed a fine of Rs 20,000 on them for not taking NOC and recognition under the RTE Act. The letter from NCPCR is in response to the complaint.”

Meanwhile, the DEO office confirmed that a copy of the letter from the NCPCR was received by them a few days ago. DEO Elementary Kamaljit Singh said that the matter was taken into immediate consideration when reported. “We had imposed a fine on the school acting upon the complaint received and the school management paid the fine. Following this, the school had filed for recognition with all due formalities, the process of which is complete now. We will also take note of the NCPCR letter and act accordingly.” He further said that the affiliations come through DEO Elementary office and sealing of the school, in this matter, was not done for cause of students. Response from Anita Mehra, principal of the school, is awaited.