Mumbai: Vinobha Bhave Nagar police have filed an FIR against the principal and management of Dr J N Barua English School in Kurla West on a complaint by state education department for allegedly operating the institution without mandatory govt approval and ignoring its closure order.School principal Shahista Siddiqui and the management, including the president, secretary, and board members, have been booked under BNS sections of cheating, forgery and disobedience of law.According to the complaint filed by Chhaya Paradke, sub-inspector of education, the school was found functioning without recognition under the Maharashtra Self-Aided Schools (Establishment and Regulation) Act, 2012 and Rules, 2020.Paradke said that on March 31, education inspector Mustaq Sheikh directed her to investigate a complaint against the school. During her inspection on April 1, Siddiqui allegedly failed to produce any approval documents issued by the government. The inquiry reportedly showed that the school had been operating without obtaining permissions from the education department. Paradke told TOI that during her inspection, she found that the school was unregistered. “They did not have any documents at all and when I asked why they had not registered their school, they said it was opened very recently,” she added.As per the provisions of the Maharashtra Self-Aided Schools (Establishment and Regulation) Act, 2012, Rules 2020 when an organisation wants to set up a new school, after submitting an application to the government, a letter of intent for construction of school and other physical facilities has to be submitted. After that, the organisation constructs the school building with the necessary physical facilities within a period of 18 months and submits a proposal to the government for final approval. The school is expected to start only after receiving the final approval.Dr J N Barua English Primary School was on the list of 164 unrecognised schools published by BMC’s education department on April 17.Based on the inspection report, the education inspector issued a notice for closure of the ‘unauthorised’ school, halt on new admissions from the academic year 2026-27, and shifting of existing students to recognised schools. The notice also warned of legal action, including criminal proceedings, for allegedly cheating students and parents. The complaint alleged that despite the directions, the management, including the president, secretary, board members and principal, continued operating the school. Paradke has accused the institution of cheating the government, students and parents by running an unrecognised school and violating official orders. (Inputs by Mahiyar Patel)
