Delhi government issues show cause notice to Janakpuri private school, proposes takeover

NEW DELHI: The Delhi government on Sunday issued a show cause notice to a private school in Janakpuri, alleging multiple lapses including cover up of sexual assault on a nursery student and diversion of Rs 6 crore meant for retirement benefits of staff for loan settlement.

The government has also proposed a takeover. In a statement, the Directorate of Education (DoE) said it has asked the school's management to respond within seven days, failing which action will be initiated under the Delhi School Education Act, 1973.

Education Minister Ashish Sood has maintained that the government has "zero tolerance" for any compromise on the safety and dignity of children, and has directed the DoE to take the strongest action against the school's management if the allegations are established, it said.

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Inquiry by DoE committees

According to the statement, a multi-phase inquiry by DoE committees found that the school allegedly failed to inform the department about the alleged molestation of a nursery student on April 30, 2026, despite such reporting being mandatory under child protection laws. The inquiry found that all 64 CCTV cameras installed at the school's pre-primary branch were non-functional when police visited the premises to investigate the incident.

The school had been operating without a maintenance contract for the surveillance system. Citing other violations, the DoE alleged that the school had been running its nursery and kindergarten classes from an unauthorised building in Narang Colony, and using its basement as an activity area for children without approval.

The school had no child protection policy, no child protection committee and no POCSO-trained nodal officer. The security guards had not undergone mandatory police verification.

The institute had basic infrastructure deficiencies, including an inadequate drinking water supply, allegedly forcing parents to pack multiple water bottles for their children. The school's fire safety certificate had expired in 2020 and was not renewed, the statement said.

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Rs 600 worth of financial irregularities

The DoE also alleged financial irregularities, claiming that around Rs 6 crore meant for employees' retirement benefits was diverted to another branch as "loan settlement". Unauthorised professional fees were paid to the school's manager and trustees from the school funds. Salaries of teaching and non-teaching staff were delayed by up to four months and were paid on outdated pay scales.

The school also increased fees by 15 per cent for the 2025-26 academic session in violation of court directions, the statement alleged.

The show cause notice asked the school's management to explain why the government should not take over its management under Section 20(1) of the Delhi School Education Act, 1973; recommend cancellation of the lease of land allotted to it by the Delhi Development Authority; and initiate criminal proceedings under relevant provisions of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act and the Juvenile Justice Act. The school has been given seven days to submit its reply.