CBSE seeks report on leasing school land to Nithyananda's ashram

New Delhi, November 21

The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has sought a report from the Gujarat Education Department on how land of a school was leased out to self-styled godman Nithyananda’s ashram in Ahmedabad without its permission, according to officials.

“The board has written to the Education Department to inquire into the matter of leasing out land of DPS, Maninagar, Ahmedabad, to Swami Nithyananda ashram without permission of the board,” a senior CBSE official said.

“It has been asked to conduct the inquiry expeditiously and convey the outcome of the report and status of no-objection certificate issued by the state department to the school for seeking CBSE affiliation,” the official added. The school’s principal Hitesh Puri, when contacted said, “we have terminated the lease agreement.” He, however, did not comment on whether permission was sought from the board before leasing out the land.

An FIR was registered against Nithyananda on Wednesday on the charges of alleged kidnapping and wrongful confinement of children to make them collect donations from followers to run his ashram. — PTI