Gurugram’s unrecognised schools ordered to shut operations

The education department released a list of 282 schools across the district that did not fulfil the recognition norms

Updated on: Apr 26, 2024, 06:16:17 IST

By Leena Dhankhar

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The district elementary education department in Gurugram has issued notices to 163 unrecognised schools, mandating their closure and prohibiting fresh admissions. The list has been prepared after the schools failed to comply with the norms required for recognition till March 31, officials aware of the matter said on Thursday.

The Punjab & Haryana high court has from time to time directed the state government in the last 10 years to close all unrecognised private schools, said officials. (HT Photo)

The department said that the unrecognised schools will not be allowed to operate.

Earlier this month, the education department released a list of 282 schools across the district that did not fulfil the recognition norms. Among them, 99 have applied for affiliations, 163 have been served notices and 20 have shut operations. Those who have been served notices, have been asked to respond, they added.

Muni Ram, district elementary education officer, said they have started working on filing criminal cases against these schools. They have asked police to probe and take actions against schools that admitted new students despite the government orders. “We have taken action and alerted police in the city, Pataudi, Farrukhnagar, Bilaspur and Manesar areas. The purpose is to urge police to file a case against the management of an unrecognised private school. The action is required as the school has proceeded with new admissions despite directives from the state government not to do so. The initiative will demonstrate a proactive approach in enforcing regulations and upholding the integrity of the educational system,” he said.

Ram said that some unrecognised schools have applied for affiliations with the Haryana School Education Board, CBSE and ICSE boards.

The Punjab & Haryana high court has from time to time directed the state government in the last 10 years to close all unrecognised private schools, said officials.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Leena Dhankhar
Leena Dhankhar is Senior Editor and Bureau Chief, Gurugram, at Hindustan Times, where she has spent over 17 years chronicling the transformation of one of India's fastest-growing urban regions. From starting her career as a crime reporter to leading the Gurugram bureau, her journalism has been defined by investigative reporting, in-depth storytelling and an unwavering focus on public interest. Over nearly two decades, she has reported extensively across crime, politics, civic governance, elections, real estate, environment, courts, sports, education and entertainment, covering Gurugram, Faridabad, Nuh and Palwal. Her reporting has exposed several major scams and systemic failures, including insurance frauds, waste management irregularities, illegal arms manufacturing units in Nuh, illegal mining in the Aravallis, organised crime networks and governance lapses affecting millions of residents. Known for her investigative work and exclusive stories, Leena has reported on high-impact national issues, including the Nicaragua charter flight carrying Indian migrants that was turned back amid allegations of human trafficking, exposing the growing network of illegal immigration rackets. Her work has also focused on gang wars, prison administration, juvenile crime, women and child protection systems, the functioning of the Juvenile Justice Board and Child Welfare Committee, and environmental challenges such as pollution, waterlogging and deteriorating civic infrastructure. Beyond hard news, Leena has extensively documented Haryana's rich heritage, forests and wildlife, bringing attention to the state's historical landmarks, biodiversity, conservation efforts and ecological challenges through immersive reportage and feature writing. Her journalism has consistently gone beyond breaking news. She has documented Gurugram's rapid urbanisation through long-form narratives and enterprise reporting on issues ranging from pothole-ridden roads, flooding and waste management to the changing social fabric of India's Millennium City. She also writes widely read feature columns, including The Outsider, Changemaker, and Concern for Gurugram, profiling people, places and ideas shaping the city's identity. Leena is the author of Gurugram School Murder, published by Juggernaut Books, a deeply reported account of one of India's most high-profile school murder investigations. She is currently working on her second book, an investigative work exploring some of India's most significant scams and fraud investigations. Beyond print journalism, she has expanded her storytelling through public speaking and digital media. She is a TEDx speaker and has produced podcasts exploring Gurugram's transformation, civic challenges and untold stories. Her work reflects a commitment to narrative journalism that combines rigorous reporting with compelling storytelling. A law graduate with an MBA in Human Resources, Leena brings a multidisciplinary perspective to her reporting, particularly on governance, public policy and legal affairs. She has travelled extensively across India to pursue investigative assignments, often reporting from remote locations and conflict-prone areas in search of stories that matter.Read More