Gurgaon: Class 10 students miss CBSE board exam after international school’s affiliation found fake

Eleven Class 10 students in Gurgaon missed their CBSE mathematics board examination after their school allegedly failed to provide admit cards and was found to have no valid affiliation with the Central Board of Secondary Education. Police have now filed a case against four officials of Educrest International School following protests by students’ parents and allegations of cheating and misrepresentation.

FIR filed against chairman, principal and staff of Educrest International school

Police registered an FIR on Wednesday at Sector-9A police station against school chairman Vinay Kataria, principal Riddhima Kataria, vice principal Nidhi Batra and coordinator Sonia. The case has been filed under sections 318(4), 316(2) and 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, which relate to cheating, criminal breach of trust and common intention.

Parents staged overnight protests after 11 students could not appear for the mathematics paper on Tuesday.

Admit cards not issued before exam day

The school, located in Sector 9B, did not issue admit cards to the students despite repeated requests from parents as board exams approached. Families said they were told the documents would be provided just two days before the exam.

On February 16, one parent visited the school and was told the admit card would be delivered to his home, but it never arrived.

Parents allege fake CBSE affiliation claim

In the complaint, a resident of New Colony said he enrolled his daughter after the school assured him that it was affiliated with the Central Board of Secondary Education. He alleged the management showed "fake affiliation certificates and brochures" promising a "golden future" and quality education by qualified teachers, and assured parents that board registration formalities would be completed.

The parent said he paid fees for tuition, uniforms and examinations through bank transfers and cash based on these assurances.

Truth surfaced on official CBSE portal

Police said the issue came to light when the parent checked the official CBSE portal and found that Educrest International School was neither affiliated nor recognised by the board. The registration numbers given to parents were allegedly fabricated.

When confronted on February 17, the school management allegedly told the parent that his child would have to "miss the first paper" but claimed arrangements would be made for the remaining exams, which officials said is not possible without valid affiliation.

School claims recent approval, plans court petition

Chairman Vinay Kataria told TOI that the school received its CBSE affiliation only five days ago and that parents had been informed about arrangements with other schools.

"We are in the process of filing a petition in the high court," Kataria told TOI, adding that lawyers have been engaged to seek permission for the affected students to appear in the remaining examinations.

The incident has put the academic future of 11 students in uncertainty and triggered questions about how schools present their affiliation status to parents. Police said they are examining documents and financial records as part of the investigation into the school management’s conduct.