SRK's school loses its recognition

New Delhi, June 22 (UNI) The capital's prestigious St Columbus School, where Bollywood actor Shah Rukh Khan did his schooling, has been derecognised by Delhi's Directorate of Education.

The step followed the transfer of Rs 1.83 crore of funds by the school to its parent society, the Congregation of Christian Brothers of India, state Education Minister Arvinder Singh Lovely said.

The withdrawal of recognition would take effect from April 2007 when the next academic session starts. School authorities can present their case to the Directorate before that date to get the order revoked.

Mr Lovely said the government was concerned that the school had increased fees even while it had ''so much funds'' with it.

The fee hike in such a case was not justified, he said.

Directorate sources said an audit was carried out in nearly 150 schools of the capital as per the routine drill. So far, only St Columbus had been derecognised.

Sources said the Directorate was also likely to propose amendment of the Delhi School Education Act, 1978, which allows schools to use its funds to set up another school.

UNI VN VD PC2007