The HRD Ministry under Smriti Irani has asked the Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations (CISCE), which conducts the ICSE and the ISC examinations to furnish reasons to justify its existence.

According to a report in the Telegraph, the ministry last week asked the CISCE to immediately reply to a letter sent in December 2014 in which the council was asked to submit documents showing the government's approval of the memorandum of association and rules and regulations of the council.

Deputy education adviser to the HRD ministry DK Bhawsar had sent the letter last year, said the Telegraph. The ministry last week sent a reminder, asking the council to "expedite the matter and furnish the reply immediately".

The HRD Ministry has cited a court notice to justify the letter and the reminder. However, there seems to be some dissension within the ministry itself. A source told the Telegraph that the HRD Ministry was using the notice to nettle the CISCE, given that many of its schools are run by Christian managements.

The ministry's reminder to the council was apparently prompted by a notice from Delhi High Court on a petition filed by Jose Aikara, who was removed as chairman of the council in November last year. Aikara was removed following charges of financial irregularities and violation of rules. The matter is pending before the Delhi HC, says the Telegraph report.

1.5 lakh students from 1900 schools in the country appeared for the ICSE examinations this year. 71,000 Class XII students from more than 900 schools took the Indian School Certificate (ISC) test earlier this year.

The Ministry feels that immediately after getting the notice from the high court, officials hunted for records on the CISCE, but could not find any document that suggested it had been set up by an executive order of the government or Act of Parliament.