The Bihar School Examination Board (BSEB) on Tuesday cancelled the affiliation of 54 inter-colleges and issued showcause notices to 26 institutes after finding that they did not adhere to norms.

Among the institutes issued showcause, 15 are from Vaishali district - also home to Vishun Roy College whose candidates came in focus in the Intermediate result scam - and six in Saran. They have not conformed to the norms required for affiliation to BSEB.

After the Intermediate result scam surfaced earlier this year, BSEB has been inspecting 212 institutions that were granted affiliation during former chairman Lalkeshwar Prasad Singh's tenure.

On Tuesday, BSEB chairman Anand Kishor told journalists that the inspection process had come to an end. "The board has completed the first step to improve the education system in Bihar," Kishor said. "Affiliation to 124 inter-colleges across the 38 districts has been cancelled after the inspection. Two institutions, Sant Jaleshwar Academy (Chhapra) and Siyaram Inter-College (Vaishali), have been given a chance to improve their infrastructure and rectify other problemsto retain their affiliation."

The institutions served the showcause notices have a month's time to explain why their affiliation should not be cancelled. "If these colleges have adhered to the criteria and norms set by the board, they will be able to retain their affiliation," said Kishor.

"Our next target is to collect information on all the district education officers and their review reports based on which such scam-tainted institutions were granted affiliation," added Kishor. "We must analyse whether the district education officers or any member of the board was responsible for this. Stern action will be taken against anyone found guilty of providing affiliation to institutions without verifying their credentials."

Speaking of the students admitted to the inter-colleges whose affiliation has been cancelled, Kishor said they would be shifted to a nearby school in the same district.

"It is compulsory for the students to attend classes at the institution they will be shifted to and complete formalities for registration (for board examination) from that institution. Seats at the affiliated inter-colleges will be increased only for this session to accommodate these students. We have laid down some rules and regulations which will have to be adhered to by all government-aided institutions as well as those affiliated to the board in the next academic year," said Kishor.

Considering the problems faced by students in paying registration fees for the Intermediate (Class XII) examination after the government's demonetisation move, Kishor said: "The date for payment of registration fees has been extended by four days till November 25."