The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) and the Delhi government have been directed by the Delhi High Court to take strict action against ‘dummy’ schools that allow students to appear for board exams without attending regular classes.
The court highlighted this issue as a form of fraud and ordered immediate inspections.
Delhi High Court’s Stand on Dummy Schools
On January 27, 2025, a bench comprising Chief Justice D K Upadhyaya and Justice Tushar Rao Gedela stated that schools providing false information to facilitate students appearing for board exams without fulfilling attendance requirements must not be allowed.
The court emphasized that many students enroll in schools but spend their time in coaching centers instead of attending regular classes.
CBSE and Delhi Government’s Response
The CBSE informed the court that it has already taken action against over 300 dummy schools across the country. However, the Delhi government counsel argued that there is no such concept as a ‘dummy’ school and that the issue is being misrepresented.
The court directed both CBSE and the state government to conduct inspections and submit affidavits detailing actions taken against such institutions.
Court Orders Surprise Inspections
The Delhi High Court has instructed the education department to conduct surprise inspections and surveys to identify dummy schools. It also mandated CBSE to collect and share relevant information with the state government, ensuring legal action against schools found violating attendance norms.
Misuse of Delhi Quota in Admissions
Petitioner Rajeev Aggarwal raised concerns that certain students misuse dummy schools to falsely claim Delhi domicile status for securing MBBS and BDS seats under the Delhi quota. The court has sought further investigation into such cases and ordered strict measures to prevent such malpractices.
Conclusion
The Delhi High Court’s directive aims to curb the existence of dummy schools and ensure that students meet attendance criteria before appearing for board exams. CBSE and the Delhi government are now under pressure to implement stricter checks and take concrete action against such fraudulent practices.
