Nithyananda Ashram land row: DPS loses CBSE affiliation

Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) on Sunday cancelled affiliation granted to Delhi Public School (DPS) near for violating government rms while leasing out land to controversial self-styled godman Swami Nithyananda for his ashram.

affiliation of school, located at Hirapur on outskirts of Ahmedab, "stands cancelled with immediate effect" on basis of a report submitted by Gujarat government stating that school got its CBSE affiliation through a "forged C". board, however, allowed students of classes 10 and 12 to appear for Board's examination in year 2020, and shifting of students of classes 9 and 11 to nearby CBSE- affiliated schools.

" school has also said land allocated to religious institution is t part of school premises. statement is contrictory to findings of state education department," CBSE said in its order. " provisional/general affiliation upto seniorsecondary level granted to Delhi Public School, Hirapur, Taluka Dascroi, Ahmedab, statds withdrawn with immediate effect," it said.

"However, keeping in view acemic interests of students, registered bonafide students of Class X and XII (for session 2019-20) are allowed to appear in Board's examination to be conducted in year 2020. " registered bonafide students of class IX and XI shall be shifted to nearby affiliated schools of Board, to be decided by regional office, Ajmer," it said.

CBSE h recently sought a report from state education department as to how school's land was leased to Nithyananda's ashram without its permission, after cases of children enrolled re being illegally withheld came to light. Nithyananda is facing charges of kidnapping and wrongful confinement of children under Indian Penal Code (IPC).

District Education Officer (DEO) h lodged an FIR against DPS MD and CEO Manjula Pooja Shroff, Hitesh Vasant and former principal Anita Dua. CBSE h granted a provisional affiliation to school between April 1, 2011 and March 31, 2014, which was later upgred to senior secondary level. reafter, board extended general affiliation for senior secondary level from April 1, 2017 to March 31, 2022 vide letter dated May 27, 2017. In its reply to CBSE, school h denied submitting any C and said land allocated to ashram was t part of school premises.