CHAND RAM PUBLIC SCHOOL Vs. UNION OF INDIA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The petitioner was granted provisional affiliation for secondary level education and for conducting the secondary level examinations by the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) with effect from 1/4/2011 till 31/3/2014. Subsequently, the affiliation was extended to the senior secondary level with effect from 1/4/2013 till 31/3/2016. The opening paragraph of show cause notice dtd. 11/7/2023, from which these proceedings emanate, acknowledges the fact that the provisional affiliation granted to the petitioner would have remained alive till 31/3/2026, had the impugned proceedings not been taken against it.

(2.) Following a surprise inspection of the petitioner school which was conducted on 22/12/2022, the petitioner was issued a show cause notice by the CBSE on 11/7/2023. The show cause notice alleged that the surprise inspection found various violations in the petitioner institution, which were enlisted in the show cause notice. The petitioner was, therefore, directed to show cause 'as to why action should not be taken against the school as per the penalties laid down in Chapter 12 of the Affiliation Bye-laws, 2018' ('the Affiliation Bye-laws').

(3.) Bye-law 12.1 of the Affiliation Bye-laws deals with imposition of penalties on schools for infraction of the bye-laws or other applicable statutes and reads thus: