Picture used for representational purpose only

CHANDIGARH: The UT education department issued a show-cause notice to Bhavan Vidyalaya School , Sector 27 , Chandigarh, on Friday for violating the RTE Act by conducting admission test for Class VI. The UT officials have confirmed the same.

The school has even uploaded the merit list of students on its website. The entrance test was conducted on February 10, say sources.

It is not the first time that the school conducted a written test for admission. In 2016, the school had advertised for the same, but after a notice from the education department, it withdrew the advertisement stating that "Keeping in view the mandatory provisions of Section 13 of the Right to Education (RTE) Act, Bhavan Vidyalaya has withdrawn the admission notice dated December 22, 2015. The school management has decided not to make fresh admissions to Class VI. Fresh registration forms are not being accepted and the registration fee deposited with admission forms is being refunded to parents without deduction."

As per Section 13 of the RTE Act, no school is authorised to collect any capitation fee while admitting a child. The child or his/her parents/guardian will not appear for any screening procedure. If the school subjects any prospective child to screening, than it 'shall be punishable with a fine which may extend to Rs 25,000 for initial contravention and Rs 50,000 for subsequent contraventions.'

When asked about the development, director, school education, Rubinderjit Singh Brar said: "Following directions by the education secretary, B L Sharma, a show-cause notice has been issued to the school by the district education officer."

When asked DEO Anujit Kaur, she said: "We got to know about the admission test and we have written to the school to explain why it violated Section 13(2) of the Right to Education Act which prohibits screening of children up to class VIII for the purpose of admission."

As per sources, the school has been asked to file a reply before 10am on February 18.

Last year, the district education officer had imposed a fine of Rs 25,000 on a Sector 7-based school and in 2017 a school in Sector 37 was fined for conducting admission test, the same was reported by TOI.

Despite repeated attempts, school principal Vineeta Arora could not be reached for a comment.

