In a major action against alleged workplace misconduct in a private school, the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has withdrawn the affiliation of Uttarakhand Public School, Sector-56, Noida, following serious complaints of mental harassment, salary irregularities and administrative mismanagement.The decision, formalised through an order dated February 18, 2026, comes after months of inquiry into allegations raised by former teachers and directions issued by the Allahabad High Court.Complaints that led to the investigationThe case came to the fore in early 2025 when a number of teachers, most of whom were women, filed complaints stating that they were being subjected to mental harassment by the school authorities. The complaints spoke of an unhealthy work environment, indecent behavior on the part of the higher authorities, being forced to work on holidays, and being coerced into resigning if they did not comply with the demands.The most disturbing of the complaints was with regard to the payment of salaries. The teachers alleged that a part of their salary was being demanded back by the school authorities under duress.The case reached the Allahabad High Court when a number of teachers, who had been let go by the school, challenged the decision in court. In its order of October 17, 2025, the Court asked the CBSE to conduct its inquiry within a stipulated time period and take appropriate action on the basis of its findings.State inquiry confirms irregularitiesBased on the complaints, the District Inspector of Schools (DIOS), Gautam Budh Nagar, initiated a thorough probe through a two-member committee. The inquiry confirmed that the complaints were valid.According to the inquiry report, teachers, especially female teachers, were working in a hostile and insecure environment. The committee also confirmed that a large amount of money had been collected from teachers by the school administration. Interestingly, around Rs 68 lakh was returned to the teachers after some objections were raised during the inquiry.The inquiry report also mentioned some administrative irregularities, stating that major decisions were being taken by the school manager, and the principal was not acting independently. Teachers who raised objections were forced to resign.School’s response fails to convinceIn its response to the show-cause notice issued by the CBSE in August 2025, the school repudiated all the charges. The school authorities asserted that the inquiry was one-sided, and teachers had voluntarily contributed to the funds because of the financial crisis being experienced by the school. The school further asserted that the statutory committees, as required under POSH and POCSO, were established and functioning.However, the CBSE was not satisfied with the response. The CBSE held that the fact that the school had already returned Rs 68 lakh showed that the contribution was not voluntary. The CBSE also held that the school had not provided any documentary evidence to substantiate its claims about the disciplinary actions taken against teachers, the grievance redressal mechanism, or the legal termination of teachers.The CBSE held that the presence of several complaints and the report of the state inquiry made it clear that there was a pattern of harassment and non-compliance with the prescribed service conditions.Why the affiliation was withdrawnIn its order, the CBSE made it clear that affiliated schools must ensure a safe, dignified, and professional working environment for their staff. The Board noted that failure to pay salaries as per norms, mental harassment, and the lack of a safe working environment for women were serious violations of the Affiliation Bye-Laws and the statutory provisions regarding workplace safety.The Board described the violations as “gross and persistent” and said that continuing the affiliation in such a scenario would be “prejudicial to the interests of teachers, students, and other stakeholders.”What it means for studentsAlthough the withdrawal of the affiliation has been done with immediate effect, the Board has ensured that there is minimal disruption in academics for the students. Students of Classes X and XII will be permitted to finish the 2025-26 academic session and sit for their board exams from the same school.Students of Classes IX and XI, however, will be transferred to other CBSE-affiliated schools in the vicinity by March 31, 2026. The school has also been prohibited from taking new admissions or allowing lower-class students to join Classes IX and XI.The school can apply for the reinstatement of affiliation only after two years of academics, and even then, only if it adheres to all safety, administrative, and service standards.
