The Central Information Commission (CIC) has recommended surprise inspections of schools affiliated with the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) to check alleged dummy admissions and ensure compliance with mandatory attendance requirements.

In an order, Information Commissioner Sudha Rani Relangi invoked Section 25(5) of the Right to Information (RTI) Act, 2005, recommending that the board inspect affiliated schools following a complaint alleging that students were obtaining examination certificates without attending classes.

The complaint was filed by an RTI applicant seeking information on attendance requirements in private missionary schools in Bhopal, along with the CBSE’s rules on subject selection and prescribed textbooks. The applicant said the request was intended to expose dummy admissions, under which students allegedly obtain examination results without attending classes.

The CBSE’s central public information officer (CPIO) initially returned the application, citing an error in the Indian Postal Order submitted as the application fee. During the hearing, the CIC observed that rejecting an application on technical grounds was inconsistent with the spirit of the RTI Act and said the CPIO should facilitate a point-wise response.

The CPIO apologised and agreed to provide the information. The CBSE subsequently submitted a point-wise reply, which the commission took on record.

In its response, the board cited its Affiliation Bye-Laws, 2018, which prohibit affiliated schools from presenting candidates for board examinations if they have not attended classes regularly or do not meet the prescribed minimum attendance requirement.

The CIC recommended surprise inspections to ensure compliance with these rules and prevent violations of CBSE affiliation conditions.

Inputs from PTI

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