Scandal hits ICSE as CEO accused of promoting wife's book

The Council for Indian School Certificate Examinations (CISCE) is hit by a scandal. The pan-India private examination board, which is parallel to the CBSE, has charge sheeted its own CEO Gerry Arathoon, accusing him of illegally “promoting” two books within the council which were authored by his wife Anita.

Gerry Arathoon has been barred from his office in the CISCE headquarters at Saket area of South Delhi till the inquiry against him is over.

Anita Arathoon authored two guidebooks — “The Merchant of Venice-Text with Paraphrase” and “The Merchant of Venice Workbook” — without her CEO husband taking prior mandatory permission from the Council. Interestingly, The Merchant of Venice-Text with Paraphrase’s preface is very suggestive, for it says that the book was “written keeping in view the pattern of questions to be set for the ICSE examination,” said sources aware of the developments. Her books were published last year.

The William Shakespeare play is being taught in IX and X standards in over 2,000 CISCE-affiliated private schools spread across the country, including the 280 schools said to be in Karnataka. The English literature book will be part of the class X ICSE Examination curriculum from next year onwards.

Council chairman Jose Aikara confirmed to Deccan Herald that he has filed a chargesheet against Arathoon. Asked if the CEO has been told to stay away from his office and a public notice about the disciplinary action has been pasted at the council headquarters,  Aikara answered in the affirmative.

The chairman, however, refused to share details of the punitive action but again said “yes” when main charges against the CEO and his wife were read out to him.

The chairman charge sheeted the CEO as the council was not satisfied over Arathoon’s replies to the show-cause notice issued to him.  The CEO is the administrative head of the organisation and by virtue of his position, Arathoon was responsible for examinations and other academic activities conducted by the board.

“I have no comments to make. Thank you,” Arathoon said despite repeated queries  for his reaction.

Another count of conflict of interest, it is learnt, on which the CEO has been charge sheeted is that the publisher, Evergreen Publications India Ltd, of his wife’s books was supplying recommended text book of “Hindi Saras Vyakaran” to affiliated schools.

This bid was not officially disclosed by the CEO. And Evergreen’s affiliate Nova Publications and Printing Private Limited was contracted by the Council for supplying OMR sheets and answer booklets for next year’s examination. The CEO allegedly did not inform the council that he gave this contract to the partner of a firm which published his wife’s books. Sources said the CEO’s acts violate service rules that bar employees and their families from participating in academic exercises and business that has commercial interest without prior permission from the organisation.