CBSE Cancels Affiliation of Neerja Modi School After Student Death
New Delhi: The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) on Tuesday cancelled the affiliation of Neerja Modi School in Jaipur, citing “gross violation” of student safety norms following the death of a nine-year-old girl last month. The decision came after a detailed inquiry found serious lapses in the school’s handling of bullying complaints and failure of its counselling and grievance redressal mechanisms, as reported by TheTrendingPeople team
The Class 4 student allegedly died by jumping from the fourth floor of the school building on November 1. CBSE officials said the inquiry panel’s findings clearly established that the school failed to provide a safe environment, warranting the severest penalty under affiliation bye-laws.
According to the inquiry report, the girl had been subjected to persistent bullying, with her parents first raising concerns with teachers in July 2024. Despite repeated complaints over nearly one and a half years, the school’s anti-bullying committee reportedly failed to intervene or contact the family. The panel observed that the class teacher did not act on the child’s distress even though she approached the teacher five times in the final 45 minutes before her death.
A senior CBSE official said the violations amounted to a complete breakdown of counselling support and internal redressal systems. “Such negligence directly impacts student safety and strikes at the foundation of affiliation,” the official noted, adding that schools are expected to function as safe spaces for children.
The board has ordered immediate withdrawal of the school’s affiliation up to the senior secondary level. However, students currently in Classes 10 and 12 will be allowed to appear for the 2025–26 examinations from the same school. Students presently in Classes 9 and 11 will be shifted to nearby schools for the 2026–27 session, while the institution has been barred from new admissions or promoting students to Classes 9 and 11.
CBSE said the school may seek restoration of affiliation up to the secondary level only after one academic year, subject to strict compliance with safety norms. Restoration up to senior secondary level may be considered only after two additional academic years.
Our Final Thoughts
The CBSE’s action sends a strong message that student safety and mental well-being are non-negotiable. Institutional apathy towards bullying complaints can have irreversible consequences, and accountability is essential to prevent such tragedies.