St Columbas School Through Its Manager v. Directorate Of Education Through Its Director

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IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI AT NEW DELHI

+ W.P.(C) 885/2026 ST COLUMBAS SCHOOL THROUGH ITS MANAGER .....Petitioner Through:

Mr. Romy Chacko, Sr. Adv. with Joe Sebastian, Ashwin Romy, Sachin Singh Dalal, Akshat Singh, Advs.

versus DIRECTORATE OF EDUCATION THROUGH ITS DIRECTOR .....Respondent Through:

Mr. Tushar Sannu, Mr. Abhinav Jha, Advs. with Mr. Anil Arora, Legal Assistant, Zone 26, DOE

CORAM:

HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE JASMEET SINGH

O R D E R

% 21.01.2026 1.

This is a writ petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India seeking the following reliefs:

A. Issue a writ of certiorari to quash the impugned show-cause notice No.PA/AddlDE/2025/122-124/9552-9555 dated 12.12.2025;

B. Quash the inquiry report dated 24.11.2025 of the high-level inquiry committee constituted by the respondent DoE subsequent to the inquiry conducted without any authority of law;..."

The authenticity of the order can be re-verified from Delhi High Court Order Portal by scanning the QR code shown above.

2.

The facts of the present case reveal that an unfortunate incident occurred wherein a Class X student of the petitioner school committed suicide. In the suicide note left behind by the deceased student, the names of four teachers were mentioned. Admittedly, those 4 teachers have been suspended.

3.

Pursuant thereto, the respondent conducted a high-level enquiry on 20.11.2025 and, as per the enquiry report, the petitioner was found to be prima facie in violation of various provisions of the Delhi School Education Act and the Rules framed thereunder. 4.

Mr. Chacko, learned senior counsel for the petitioner, states that the enquiry was conducted without any show cause notice or without asking for any explanation from the petitioner and hence, is a one sided enquiry.

5.

Be that as it may, based on the enquiry, the respondent has issued impugned show cause notice dated 12.12.2025.

6.

Learned senior counsel for the petitioner states that the perusal of the show cause notice shows that the respondents have already predetermined the issue and even otherwise, the show cause notice is contrary to the provisions of the Delhi School Education Act, 1973 and Rules framed thereunder.

7.

However, I am of the view that, as on date, the respondent has merely issued a show cause notice. The petitioner shall be at liberty to raise all permissible defences in its reply thereto, including the contention that the petitioner, being an unaided minority school, is governed by Chapter IV of the Delhi School Education Act, as well as the plea The authenticity of the order can be re-verified from Delhi High Court Order Portal by scanning the QR code shown above.

that, even on merits, the show cause notice is not maintainable. 8.

It is also contended that certain additional directions issued to the petitioner school travel beyond the jurisdiction and purview of the respondent, which contention is refuted by Mr. Sannu, learned counsel appearing for the respondent.

9.

All such objections and submissions are left open to be urged by the petitioner in its reply. The respondent shall duly consider the same, afford the petitioner an opportunity of personal hearing, and thereafter pass a reasoned and speaking order in accordance with law. 10.

In case the order is passed against the petitioner, the respondent shall not give effect to the same for a period of 10 days thereafter. 11.

Enquiry report along with annexures be supplied to the petitioner within 7 working days from today.

12.

The court has not commented on the merits/demerits of the matter and has only recorded the submissions.

13.

With these directions, the petition is disposed of. JASMEET SINGH, J JANUARY 21, 2026/sp The authenticity of the order can be re-verified from Delhi High Court Order Portal by scanning the QR code shown above.