CBSE issues Ryan de-affiliation notice

New Delhi: The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) on Saturday issued a show-cause notice to Ryan International School, Gurgaon, asking why its affiliation should not be withdrawn and observed that it had failed to observe "basic security measures". A two-member fact-finding committee set up by the CBSE following the murder of seven-year-old Pradhuman Kumar said it appears from the sequence of events that Ryan's International was guilty of gross negligence.

The death could have been avoided had the school been more cautious, the show-cause notice said. "The unfortunate death could have been averted had the school authorities discharged their duty with responsibility, care, and security. The school failed to observe the basic security measures as stipulated by the board," the notice said.

"From the entire sequence of events, it appears that the school is guilty of gross negligence and failed to ensure safety and security of students in its schools," the notice added. The school authorities have been asked to respond within 15 days on why its provisional affiliation should not be withdrawn for wilful violation of provisions of CBSE by-laws.

The probe panel pointed out that the school had no provision of toilets for drivers, conductors and cleaners and they were using the facilities meant for students and staff. The CBSE notice also pointed out a safety breach in the school boundary wall (covered with barbed wires) which, the committee observed, is a threat to children's safety as anybody can enter the campus.

The panel noted the insufficient number of CCTV cameras and said most of the installed cameras did not work. "The school failed to discharge its responsibility to file an FIR and inform the district education officer and CBSE after knowing the incident," the board said, adding that the FIR was subsequently filed by a parent.