Jaipur School Faces CBSE Wrath Over Class 4 Student's Fatal Fall Amid Bullying Allegations

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The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has issued a show-cause notice to a Jaipur private school, where a 9-year-old Class 4 student died after falling from the fourth floor on November 1. The board's two-member committee found that the school had allegedly ignored repeated complaints of bullying by the child's parents for nearly 18 months before the incident. A surprise inspection by the panel revealed 'gross violations' of Affiliation Bye-Laws and 'severe lapses' in child safety, bullying prevention, and school infrastructure. The committee concluded that the school failed to maintain a healthy atmosphere and did not comply with statutory obligations related to bullying, safety, and child protection. The school has been given 30 days to respond to the notice, which asks them to explain why penalties under Chapter 12 of the Affiliation Bye-Laws should not be imposed. These penalties range from warnings and fines to downgrading, suspension, or even withdrawal of affiliation. The CBSE committee's findings include multiple safety breaches, such as students not wearing ID cards, lack of a safety and security committee, inadequate CCTV monitoring, and unsafe infrastructure. The school was also found to have ignored national guidelines, including those issued by the Supreme Court and National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR). The parents of the deceased child have demanded the 'strictest action' and cancellation of the school's affiliation, citing the school's failure to take preventive and proactive action against bullying despite multiple reports. The committee's findings also revealed that the child's teacher took no corrective action when the child approached them for help, and the school did not refer the child to the counsellor despite several distress signals. CBSE-affiliated schools are required to follow all provisions of its examination and affiliation Bye-Laws, which include mandatory rules on safety, infrastructure, academics, and student protection. The board has taken action against the school to ensure compliance with these rules and protect the rights of students.