The Rajasthan School Education Department has issued a stern ultimatum to Jaipur's prestigious Neerja Modi School, threatening to withdraw its recognition following the tragic death of a 9-year-old student. The girl, Amaira, died after falling from the fourth-floor parapet of the school building on November 1.
Department Issues 7-Day Show Cause Notice
In a notice dated December 17, Director of Secondary Education Sitaram Jat has given the school a seven-day deadline to submit an explanation. The notice explicitly states that failure to respond will lead to action, including the potential withdrawal of the institution's recognition, upgradation status, or CBSE No Objection Certificate (NOC). The department is acting under Rule 7(1) of the Rajasthan Non-Government Educational Institutions Act, 1989 and Rules, 1993.
The notice follows a damning investigation report released by the state education department. The report highlights multiple, serious failures in student safety protocols. It squarely places blame on the school administration, citing "negligence in the safety of children" and the absence of critical security measures.
Investigation Uncovers Critical Safety Lapses
The official report details a shocking lack of basic safety infrastructure. It notes that the school's D Block has five floors. Crucially, for the safety of young children up to Class 8, there was no iron mesh or railings above the stair railings. Furthermore, the open courtyard on the ground floor lacked protective netting, a standard safety feature.
Perhaps more alarming is the report's finding that there were no security personnel or assistants stationed on each floor. Their role would have been to prevent children from accessing floors where their classes were not held and to intervene if they did. The report also condemns the school's immediate response, noting that the accident site was washed and cleaned with water after the fall, which it states indicates a significant lapse.
Parents Allege Cover-Up, Demand Justice
The school's actions have drawn fierce criticism from the child's family and parent bodies. The girl's father, Vijay Meena, expressed anguish over the lack of information, stating that over 50 days after the incident, neither police nor the state government had shared updates with the family. He questioned the school's decision to remove the class teacher and maths teacher, seeing it as an admission of guilt.
The Sanyukt Abhibhavak Sangh, a city-wide parents' representative body, called the education department's notice a "cover-up." The association's spokesperson, Abhishek Jain Bittu, accused the department of injustice for ignoring the bullying aspect highlighted in an earlier CBSE notice. The CBSE, in its show-cause notice on November 20, had stated that Amaira's jump occurred in an environment of "unbearable trauma and mental harassment," worsened by the school ignoring her repeated complaints to teachers.
The school principal, Indu Dubey, did not respond to requests for comment on the latest notice. The future of the institution now hinges on its response within the seven-day window, as the education department prepares to take strict action as per the rules.
