In a fresh trouble for self-styled godman Asaram Bapu, the credentials of about 25 schools being run in the name of Sant Shri Asaram Gurukul in several States is likely to come under scanner.
Sources in the HRD Ministry said that the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE), an autonomous body which affiliates schools, would verify the veracity of the landed property/location from where these gurukuls are being operated and whether they meet the terms and conditions of CBSE affiliation procedures. Most of Asaram’s ashrams are mired in litigation hurdles and the godman himself is currently facing judicial custody on charges of alleged rape of a girl student by him in one of his gurukul.
Asaram gurukuls spread across 7-8 northern Indian States with strength of over 10,000 students enrolled in primary and secondary education are affiliated to either CBSE or respective State Education Boards and follow either the prescribed NCERT (HRD Ministry) or State Board syllabus.
The CBSE has received complaints against some of the gurukuls with demand of affiliation status. Of the total of about 25 gurukuls being run by Sant Shri Asaram Gurukul, maximum are in Uttar Pradesh (7) followed by five each in Gujarat and Maharashtra, three in Madhya Pradesh, two in Jammu and Kashmir and one each in States of Rajasthan, Odisha and Chhattisgarh.
Most of the schools are situated within the precincts of the ashram where commercial activities like sale of medicines and Asaram’s literature are also done. “The CBSE affiliations bylaws say the land should be free from any kind of litigation and disputes. The Board will issue showcause notices,” said a top HRD Ministry official.
The affiliation is considered on the grounds that land has been allotted by the Gover
nment or Government agencies and it is as per the law of the land. In all such cases, schools should have at least one acre of land by ownership or by lease for 30 years and should be in possession of a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from
the State Government.
According to complainant RTI activist Rajendra Gupta, the Khandwa Road Ashram in Madhya Pradesh has flouted lease terms where no construction is permissible whereas a full-fledged school (gurukul) operates. The State administration has already issued showcause notices to the ashram authorities. Gupta has alleged that Asaram’s ashram has submitted false information to CBSE to seek affiliation.
The CBSE affiliation guidelines says that the schools can lose affiliation permanently if found guilty of financial, land and other service rules irregularities like engagement of school trust/management in activities prejudicial to the interest of the State; inculcating or promoting feelings of disloyalty or disaffection against the Government established by law; encouraging or tolerating disharmony/hatred between different sections of the society and last but not the least, a school which fails to check gender specific violence.