Disclaimer: This has been reported after the availability of the order of the Court and not on media reports so as to give an accurate report to our readers.
Rajasthan High Court: While considering a writ petition filed by Jaipur’s Neerja Modi School challenging the order, dated 23 February 2026, passed by the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE), a Single Judge Bench of Ganesh Ram Meena, JJ., stayed CBSE’s order and directed Neeraj Modi School to cure the deficiencies within one month taking into account the interest of students studying there.
Background
In the present case, by the impugned order, CBSE alleged violation of statutory provisions of affiliation byelaws of the Board governing the affiliation conditions against Neerja Modi School ordered that:
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Neerja Modi School’s affiliation is restored to secondary level only, and the students registered in class IX shall not be shifted to other schools.
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The affiliation for Senior Secondary level shall remain withdrawn for two years.
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Present class XI students moving to class XII shall not be shifted and will continue in the same school to appear for Board examination 2027.
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The school shall not take new admissions or promote any students in class XI until affiliation is restored to Senior Secondary level.
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For classes 1st to 8th, the Director, Secondary Education, Govt. of Rajasthan may decide on continuation of recognition as per state norms.
Neerja Modi School submitted that it has been running smoothly since 2001 with 5500 students in the Academic Year 2025-26, had complied with CBSE norms and received affiliation after due inspection, which was extended by CBSE in 2024 up to 31 March 2029 considering its credibility. Its counsel stated that a tragic incident occurred on 1 November 2025 involving a teacher whose services were terminated, and CBSE pointed out deficiencies to prevent recurrence, most of which have been rectified, and the rest will be cured within one month.
The counsel further stated that CBSE earlier withdrew Neerja Modi School’s affiliation up to Senior Secondary Level, aggrieved by which the School filed a petition, and the Court directed filing of representation under Clause 13.10 of Byelaws, 2018, restraining transfer of students meanwhile.
Upon representation, CBSE restored affiliation up to Secondary Level but maintained withdrawal for Senior Secondary Level. The counsel argued that the penalty is too harsh given the school’s credibility, and that the impugned order causes injustice to students.
Analysis and Decision
Considering interest of the large number of students who are studying in Neerja Modi School and the fact that the School has undertaken to cure the deficiencies pointed out by CBSE, the Court stayed the effect and operation of the impugned order. The Court imposed a condition for the same on Neerja Modi School to deposit Rs. 5,00,000 with CBSE within 10 days.
The Court stated that the deposited amount shall be kept in the Fixed Deposit Receipt by CBSE, which would remain subject to outcome of the present writ petition. Further, the Court directed Neerja Modi School to cure all the deficiencies as pointed out by CBSE within one month and CBSE to make inspection of the School after 45 days. If the deficiencies stood not cured, then CBSE shall be at liberty to move an appropriate application before the High Court.
The Court directed CBSE to submit a list of all those institutions/schools where they intend to transfer the students of Neerja Modi School in case the order of affiliation is maintained by the next hearing. Further, the Court directed CBSE to submit the verification report of such institutions after due physical verification on visit that such institutions do not suffer any deficiencies with respect to the norms prescribed by the Board. The Court stated that the said verification report shall be submitted with an affidavit of the Secretary of the Central Board of Secondary Education.
[Neerja Modi School v. Central Board of Secondary Education, S.B. Civil Writ Petition No. 4350 of 2026, decided on 18-3-2026]
Advocates who appeared in this case:
For the Petitioner: A.K. Sharma, Senior Advocate, Rachit Sharma and Madhav Dadhich, Advocates
For the Respondent: M.S. Raghav, Vishwas Saini, Chetan Khandal, Mananjay Singh Rathore, S.S. Hora and Amulya Jemini, Advocates
