New Delhi: The Central Board of Secondary Education has warned schools against withholding admit cards of Class X and Class XII students on any pretext, including poor performance in pre-board tests.

The warning followed complaints the board had received that certain schools were holding back admit cards and in some cases charging a fee for releasing them.

"Several instances of not issuing admit cards by various CBSE-affiliated schools on grounds of performance of students in pre-board tests (conducted by schools internally) have come to the notice of the board.

"It has also been noted that some schools are charging fees for release of the admit card," CBSE controller of examination K.K. Chaudhary said in an advisory to schools.

"In no case the heads of affiliated schools shall detain eligible candidates from appearing at the examination. The practice has been viewed very seriously by the board and is violative of the bye-laws," the board said citing Rule 15 of the examination bye-laws.

The advisory said the board issues admit cards to only those students sponsored by the schools in their final list of candidates. "Therefore, their eligibility for the exams has already been confirmed by the school and hence their admit cards cannot be withheld. The schools also cannot charge any fee for issuing admit cards," it said.

The CBSE board exams for Class X and Class XII students are set to begin from March 5.