Private school in Ahmedabad served show cause notice as DEO team detects 13 ‘irregularities’ during surprise check

“We had received several complaints regarding various irregularities in Nataraj High School in Ambikanagar. A team of 10 officials of this office visited the school on October 4 for a surprise check when several irregularities in the school came out and these have been noted in the investigation report,” Ahmedabad (city) DEO Chaudhary said.

Some of the irregularities stated in the show cause notice include absence of BUP and valid map of the school certified by the competent authority and only 25 staff out of 14 being present during the investigation process. The remaining 15 employees did not submit any evidence regarding whether they had taken leave or not, the notice added.

“Regarding the school’s academic work record book, the service books of (three employees) have not been submitted. All three employees are relatives of the board of trustees…please provide an explanation… The classrooms are insufficient and the classroom size is not as per the rules. Primary school classes are accommodated in a room made of a shed and the staircase does not seem safe to go to the third floor,” the notice stated.

It also came to the fore during the inspection of records that despite classes from IX to XII being grant-in-aid, and the school being given a maintenance grant by the government, a fee of Rs 2,000 is charged from the students.

“The school has not submitted the approval order for the classes of the higher secondary department. It has been stated by the students that the teacher of the school is also the lab coordinator to whom the students go for private tuition. During the last 10 years of the school, as per the examination records conducted by the Gujarat Secondary and Higher Secondary Board, the school has admitted repeater students and their proportion has been found to be high,” the notice added.

The DEO said that during the inspection of the school, it has come to our attention that the school has admitted 33 repeater students in Class X and XII in 2025.

“Thus, the school has continued classes incorrectly and has obtained grants from the government and salary grants, under which the government has suffered financial loss, which is hereby informed to clarify,” the notice stated.

The school management has been asked to appear in person on October 10 to submit a written explanation along with the necessary grounds as to why action should not be taken against them as per the rules against these irregularities. Failing which, action such as shutting down classes, withdrawing the grant, and cancellation of the school’s recognition could be taken.

When contacted, school management trustee Satyavir Bhadoria told The Indian Express that they have not received the notice yet. “We have not received the show cause notice and are not aware of these irregularities,” he added.