In a major crackdown on fraudulent educational practices, the Delhi High Court has taken strict action against a private school operating as a "dummy" institution. The court has prohibited Richmondd Global School from conducting classes for grades XI and XII and from admitting any new students to these senior secondary levels.
Court Slaps Heavy Fine and Contempt Proceedings
Justice Jyoti Singh of the Delhi High Court directed the school's management to deposit a substantial amount of ₹75 lakh with the court registry. This sum represents the fees collected from hundreds of students who were enrolled only on paper and never attended actual classes. The court also initiated contempt of court proceedings against the school's owner and management for violating a previous undertaking given to the judiciary.
The order came after the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) conducted a surprise inspection at the school. The board suspected that the enrolled students were primarily attending coaching classes elsewhere but had paid the school to maintain formal enrollment. This arrangement was allegedly to ensure their eligibility to appear for the crucial Class XII board examinations and subsequently avail quotas for admission to Delhi's prestigious engineering and medical colleges.
Lifeline for 128 Students, Strict Conditions Apply
In a relief measure for some affected pupils, the court permitted 128 students out of the total 1,300 enrolled in classes XI and XII to be transferred to a nearby CBSE-affiliated institution, James Convent Senior Secondary School in Nihal Vihar. The court directed CBSE to open its online portal to facilitate the examination registration process for these students.
The court laid down a specific verification process. A team of CBSE officials will visit Richmondd Global School on December 26 at 2:30 PM to inspect records and verify the admissions and attendance of these 128 Class XII students. The school has been ordered to issue transfer certificates to them within one week. Upon receiving the certificates, the students can join the new school. They will be required to pay three months' quarter fee as well as any applicable examination or late fees.
Court's Order to Prevent Future Mischief
The High Court made it clear that this concession was an exceptional measure due to extraordinary circumstances and should not be treated as a precedent for other students in Class XI or any other similar cases. The court appreciated the role played by CBSE standing counsel M A Niyazi in facilitating the student transfers.
To ensure transparency and prevent future admissions, the court ordered the school's chairman, Nidhi Gupta, and manager, Rishabh Gupta, to file separate affidavits confirming that no further students are being admitted. The court also mandated that this information must be disseminated to students of classes X and XI and displayed prominently on the school's notice board. This is to make it clear to current students that they will not be promoted to classes XI and XII in the next academic session at this institution.
The court was hearing petitions filed by the school and some of its students challenging the CBSE's decision to withdraw the school's affiliation. The court's decisive order underscores a zero-tolerance policy towards dummy schools that undermine the integrity of the education system and exploit students' aspirations.
