The Department of Public Instruction (DPI) has directed the officials concerned to book criminal cases against six school managements for forgery and cheating.
All six are under the NPS Group of Schools. They have been under the scanner for allegedly producing fake minority certificates to escape providing 25 per cent seats to students under the Right to Education (RTE) quota.
‘Forged’
Minority certificates are issued by the National Commission for Minority Education Institutions (NCMEI) and the Directorate of Urdu and Other Minority Language Institutions under the Department of Public Instruction. But, officials claim that the school submitted fake documents.
Commissioner for Public Instruction Sowjanya said that the jurisdictional officers were directed to file cases after the NCMEI observed that the certificates produced by the group were forged. Documents accessed by The Hindu showed that Rita Chatterjee, secretary, NCMEI, had written to Zohra Jabeen, Director (Minority), DPI pointing out that the font and the letterhead for the certificates were forged. Also, she noted that the certificates had been signed under a different name, and not hers.
Probe under way
The NCMEI has filed an FIR against K.P. Gopalkrishna, the founder-chairman of the group, at Parliament Street Police Station in New Delhi.
Mr. Gopalkrishna said that NCMEI’s allegations are yet to be established. “There needs to be a thorough inquiry before action is initiated,” he said, adding that a probe is under way.
Sources in the DPI pointed out that the six schools were run by the National Education Trust, Citizen Education Society and National Academy for Learning.
CBSE seeks reply
The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE), which received a complaint from NCMEI, has written to the manager of NPS Indiranagar seeking an explanation within 15 days. It has also said that if the institute fails to respond within the stipulated time, it will be presumed that there is nothing to be said and action will be taken as per provisions of the affiliation bylaws.
Schools in
the dock
National Public School, Rajajinagar
National Public School, Indiranagar
National Public School, Koramangala
National Public School, HSR layout
National Public School, Mysuru
National Academy for Learning, Basaveshwara Nagar
The CBSE has written to the manager of NPS Indiranagar seeking explanation within 15 days
