PVLF 2025

33 Sambhal Schools Fined ₹1 Lakh for Book Norm Violations

33 private schools in Sambhal fined ₹1 lakh each for violating NCERT book norms and allegedly pressuring parents to buy from specific vendors.
on May 06, 2025

The Sambhal district administration has also slammed a fine of Rs 1 lakh each on 33 private schools following the CBSE and ICSE boards for apparently using private publisher books and "forcing" students to buy them from specified shops.

The move comes after the district administration carried out an inquiry following complaints from parents. The inquiry team discovered that the schools were not only skipping the suggested NCERT textbooks but were also pressurizing parents to purchase books from certain vendors — in contravention of norms established by the state government.

In addition to the book-related violations, the administration is also investigating complaints regarding a “surge” in school fees and further action may be taken based on the findings.

"It is specifically directed that only National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) books are to be used. But we have received complaints that some schools were prescribing books published by private parties and asking parents to purchase them from particular shops," said Shyama Kumar, District Inspector of Schools (DIOS), Sambhal.

He further mentioned that an investigation revealed that among the 34 private schools running in the district, 33 were found to be defying the rules of Uttar Pradesh Self-Financed Independent Schools (Fee Regulation) Act. We discovered one school in Sambhal's Chandausi area where NCERT books were being taught. These schools range from nursery to Class 10 and 12.

District Magistrate (DM), Sambhal, Dr Rajender Pensiya has confirmed that a fine of Rs 1 lakh each has been levied on 33 schools that have been flouting the norms. He further stated that their primary aim is that schools must adhere to norms and use NCERT books, as mandated.

If school authorities again resort to flouting the rules, tougher action would be initiated against them, according to the DM.

DIOS stated that the 33 school authorities have been ordered to deposit the fine within a week.

As per officials, some parents recently complained to the District Inspector of Schools (DIOS) and the District Magistrate that private schools were compelling them to purchase books from private publishers who sell books only at particular shops. The schools were also accused by a few parents of substantially raising their fee structures unnecessarily.

In response to the grievances, the district administration had organized a meeting last month with the representatives of private schools and informed them that they are going against the Act. In the meeting, school authorities were asked to stop charging excess fees and to strictly abide by the requirement of adopting only NCERT books.

But since no major changes were noticed, the administration summoned another meeting of its officials and decided to conduct a thorough survey of every school to check if they are breaking the rules. District officials were given to every school to undertake physical inspections and provide detailed reports based on the findings.

Source added it was revealed that at some places, parents of students were compelled to buy from bookstores either on or within the school campus.

Following the inquiry, a meeting was organized by the district administration to scrutinize the report of the probe. The inquiry confirmed that 33 schools had violated set norms.

On the matter of purported fee increases, Shyama Kumar stated that the administration had sent a comprehensive format to all private schools, requesting them to furnish their fee schedules for the last three years. "All schools have submitted the data as requested and an audit is in progress.