A group of parents and their wards staged a demonstration in front of the district collectorate in Jamshedpur on Thursday, saying that the English medium school where their children were studying was refusing to promote them in violation of Right to Education Act-2009, allegation the school has denied.

Six parents, along with seven students of DBMS English School of Kadma, alleged report cards were being withheld even though results were announced in the first week of March and that they were being pressured to seek a transfer certificate.

"My son is a student in Class VIII, but he is yet to get his results. The class teacher said he has failed and his report card would be given only if we wrote a letter requesting a transfer certificate," alleged Chhanda Choudhary, a home-maker of Adityapur in neighbouring Seraikela Kharsawan district.

"I do not know where to take my son for admission now. After consulting other parents I came to know that this is against the RTE Act and we met Jamshedpur Abhibhavak Sangh (a parents' outfit) and aired our grievance with the deputy commissioner on Thursday," she added.

But school principal Rajani Shekhar said they were aware of the provisions of RTE Act and that no student had been detained because of academic performance.

"We are aware of the RTE Act... we have not detained anybody based on academic background, though these students are very poor in studies. However, we have told parents that we cannot allow them in our school as they have been indulging in various acts of indiscipline. We have documentary evidence," she said.

According to Section 16 of the RTE Act, no student can be detained or "failed" by any board till Class VIII due to academic reasons.

East Singhbhum district superintendent of education (DSE) Indra Bhusan Singh said prima facie, based on the allegations of parents, the school was violating RTE Act.

East Singhbhum deputy commissioner Amitabh Kaushal said he had received the parents' representation. "Action will be taken as per the provision of the law," he said.

Another parent, advocate K.L. Mittal, also argued that DBMS school was violating the RTE Act blatantly. "We hope the district administration takes action against the private school which is indirectly putting pressure on us (parents) to accept transfer certificates for our children by withholding their results," said the Circuit House Area resident.

He said he had come to know from other parents that over 40 students studying in various sections of Class VIII had met the same fate. "How can so many students fare badly in academics, that too, in the same class?" he said.

Yash Choudhary, a student who was part of the protests, looked worried. "First terminal examinations will begin from April 21 and till today (Thursday), we are unsure about our future," he said.

Jamshedpur Abhibhavak Sangh president Umesh Kumar said, "We have demanded that students be promoted to Class IX and the administration should initiate action against the school for violating provision of the RTE Act."