Rajasthan High Court Orders SITs To Probe 'Dummy' Schools Manipulating Attendance, Allowing Students To Skip Classes For NEET/JEE Coaching

The Rajasthan High Court came down heavily upon the schools permitting dummy candidates by manipulating attendance registers without actual presence of these students for regular studies in Class IX to XII, so that they can attend coaching centres for NEET and JEE preparations.Observing that menace of dummy schools is a blight on the education system Justice Anoop Kumar Dhand directed the State and all education Boards to constitute Special Investigating Teams (SITs) for surprise inspections and said:"The State of Rajasthan and all the Boards are directed to constitute Special Investigating Teams (SITs) to carry out sudden and random inspections of all the schools and the coaching centres and in case, the students are found absent in such schools and simultaneously, they found present in the coaching centres, during the school hours, then appropriate strict action be taken against all the stakeholders, including the schools and the coaching centres in accordance with law". Furthermore, the Court asked CBSE and Board of Secondary Education, Ajmer, to carry out surprise inspections of schools on regular basis, and if attendance of students and teachers were found short, appropriate action to be taken against them, including de-affiliation and de-recognition. “This is right time and high time for the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) and the Rajasthan Board of Secondary Education (RBSE) and the other Secondary Education Boards to look into the matter and come only with a strict Bye-Laws whereby all the students are required to regularly attend the classes from Class-IX to XII and all the students and their parents must be made aware of such requirement. Now, it is mandatory for each and every student to attend at least 75% Classes and remain present there as and when sudden and random school class-room inspections are carried out by the respective Board”The Court also held that it was the right and high time for CBSE and RBSE and other Secondary Education Boards to look into the matter and came up with a byelaws whereby all students were required to regularly attend classes from Class IX- Class XII making atleast 75% attendance mandatory, and their parents must also be aware of that requirement.These observations were made while the Court was hearing a petition filed by two schools who were de-affiliated for one year by CBSE on account of multiple deficiencies, one of which was sponsoring dummy/non-attending students, and manipulating records to misled the board.With respect to the matter, the court remitted it back to the CBSE and directed it to re-examine it thereby making a comparison between the cases of all the three schools and pass a fresh and appropriate orders within four weeks. The Court opined that in light of such dummy/non-attending schools, education had become a profitable business for both the schools and the coaching centers. These places connive at the parents' request and as a result students are confined to study in coaching centers or at homes to focus solely on entrance exams which impacted their mental health.“The proliferation of dummy schools is a symptom of a deeper crisis in India's education system, rooted in the commercialization and commodification of education…The menace of dummy schools is a blight on India's education system, undermining the principles of holistic learning and academic integrity.”The Court also observed that it was lack of awareness among parents that was leading to the unfair and dangerous trend. It was opined that it was the right and high time that parents gave freedom to their children to choose their career path, rather than imposing their own expectations on them. It was stated that seats in IITs and Medical Colleges were limited, and not all children could become engineers or doctors. Only some end up clearing the entrance examinations. However, since these children had not pursued their regular studies of Class 10th, 11th, and 12th, it became difficult for them to get admission in other streams/colleges for graduation. “Consequently, there is a recognized need for balanced parental support that respects and fosters the student's autonomy and independence in their career decision-making process. Education system should aim to strengthen engagement between schools and parents in order to improve information and guidance for parents on effective practices for supporting their children's learning.”The Court also stated that it was expected from the State Government, Department of Education and all the concerned Secondary Boards to create counselling centres in all the schools for counselling the students and their parents on careers of students and not forcing them to study a particular stream against their wishes.Along with these, the directions mentioned earlier were also given to the State of Rajasthan, CBSE and all Boards. Title: LBS Convent School v CBSE and other connected petitions Citation: 2025 LiveLaw (Raj) 316For Petitioners: Mr. R.B....

Rajasthan High Court Orders SITs To Probe 'Dummy' Schools Manipulating Attendance, Allowing Students To Skip Classes For NEET/JEE Coaching

Nupur Agrawal

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