Ahmedabad: The Gujarat government has assumed control of the Seventh-day Adventist Higher Secondary School in Maninagar following the discovery of significant breaches of education regulations, affiliation requirements and safety standards during an official probe launched after a deadly incident on school grounds.
The institution operates as an ICSE-affiliated school for Classes 1 through 12 and also conducts GSHSEB-approved Classes 11 and 12 in the Science stream. The investigation was initiated after a Class 8 student allegedly used a sharp weapon to attack a Class 10 student, resulting in the victim’s death. Subsequently, numerous petitions were filed demanding stringent measures against the school’s management.
Investigation and examination
Responding to these grievances, the Gujarat Secondary and Higher Secondary Education Board and the Directorate of Primary Education instructed the District Education Officer (DEO) of Ahmedabad to carry out a comprehensive probe into the school’s operations, authorizations and recognitions. Designated officers conducted an on-site examination, which was followed by a formal inquiry conducted by a panel established under Rule 14 of the Gujarat RTE Rules, 2012, in compliance with the RTE Act, 2009, Gujarat RTE Rules, 2012, School Safety Policy and ICSE affiliation guidelines.
Following the inquiry, the DEO filed a report on October 18, 2025, documenting numerous critical shortcomings by the school.
Significant infractions discovered
The report revealed that the school allegedly engaged in the following violations:
- Extra classes were introduced without securing advance permission from relevant boards, and no documentation was provided.
- The trust or society operating the school remained unclear, with various documents referencing different trusts or societies.
- According to CISCE regulations, a school must be managed by a single registered non-profit trust or society; the institution failed to demonstrate compliance with this standard.
- Required advance approvals were not secured for modifications to school management, trust composition or campus infrastructure.
- The school did not provide evidence of minority status for its primary division.
- Book sales on school premises were determined to constitute profiteering, which violates the Gujarat Self-Financed Schools (Fee Regulation) Act, 2017. Audited financial records showed revenue from book sales, suggesting an apparent legal breach.
- The school operated in two shifts without the required approval, separate staff or distinct records, contravening established regulations.
- The property housing the school was leased for 99 years by the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation to “The India Financial Association of Seventh-day Adventists” for educational use, while the school is reportedly managed by a separate entity — “The Council of Seventh-Day Adventist Educational Institutions / Ashlock Education Trust” — indicating a violation of lease terms.
- Sanctioned blueprints submitted by the school referenced only two structures, but the campus presently contains three buildings — Alpha, Shelom and Omega.
- A building use (BU) authorization certificate was submitted for just one block (B Block), issued in 2009, while no BU clearance was presented for current construction.
- In its affidavit filed when requesting approval for Classes 11 and 12 (Science) under GSHSEB, the school stated that no other secondary or higher secondary school operated on the same site, despite an ICSE school from Classes 1 to 12 already functioning there, demonstrating concealment of information.
- MBA and Bachelor of Science and Arts colleges were running on the same campus. While an ICSE Board NOC dated May 25, 2022, was furnished, no NOC from GSHSEB was submitted.
Directorate’s assessment
The Directorate of Primary Education determined that the school violated Rule 106(a) of the Bombay Primary Education Rules, 1949, and Rule 13 of the Gujarat RTE Rules, 2012, concerning recognition, affiliation and supplementary classes. Breaches were also identified regarding management and trust structure changes, minority status assertions, RTE requirements, profiteering activities, unauthorized double shifts and lease condition violations.
The report additionally noted that fraudulent affidavits and papers were submitted when seeking approvals, constituting misrepresentation and deception, thereby betraying the confidence of students, parents and the Fee Regulatory Committee (FRC).
Given these conclusions, the Director of Primary Education advised that, under Rule 104(2) of the Bombay Primary Education Rules, 1949, the private school’s administration should be assumed by the state government and transferred to the District Education Officer, Ahmedabad city, as the supervisory authority.
Government action
Using the DEO’s report dated October 18, 2025, and the Director of Primary Education’s recommendation dated November 6, 2025, the Gujarat Secondary and Higher Secondary Education Board submitted the issue to the state government. Following government authorization, the Board released an order on December 15, 2025.
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Taking into account the welfare of more than 10,000 students presently registered, the state government has chosen to assume administrative control of all schools operating on the campus, with the stipulation that no fresh admissions will be permitted. The District Education Officer, Ahmedabad city, has been designated as the administrator.
The takeover includes:
- The GSHSEB-approved Classes 11 and 12 Science stream school
- The private primary school under Rule 104(2) of the Bombay Primary Education Rules, 1949
- The ICSE-affiliated primary, secondary and higher secondary school sections
Specific directives concerning the execution of the takeover will be released separately by the Directorate of Primary Education and the Gujarat Secondary and Higher Secondary Education Board.