Abodh Sharma
Early Times Report
Jammu, Mar 4: Skeletons have tumbled out of the cupboard of the director school education Jammu, who has long been accused of gross irregularities and misappropriations, as the orders of recognition issued under his hand and seal in favour of some private schools four days after he officially achieved superannuation, appeared on the official website of the department the previous day.
Astoundingly, the orders ( DSEJ/PVT/2018/13952-13955)were issued on March 3, 2018, while the director, Ravinder Singh superannuated on February 28, 2018. The office of the DSEJ immediately got into fire- fighting mode after the grave irregularity was detected and it was termed as a 'clerical mistake', but stake holders allege that it was just a part of the larger racket which was flourishing in the office of the DSEJ for last several months, under political patronage. "The prospective permissions/recognitions were issued in favour of private schools in exchange for pecuniary benefits" said former Minister for Education Harshdev Singh, seeking a criminal investigation into the matter and arrest of the outgoing director. "Besides the timing of the orders, the permissions were granted in anticipation even as the schools in question did not meet the mandatory safety guidelines, which again is a grave violation" he added. Sources in the department admitted to under table deals for grant of these permissions.
The outgoing director Ravinder Singh has been accused of corruption and nepotism during his tenure and Harsh Dev Singh has repeatedly raised his voice against the malpractices in the office of the DSEJ and blatant violation of laid norms. "The director had made illegal attachments of teachers in his office in exchange for money and as many as 48 people were attached in his office despite an administrative order banning all attachments. No only this, all these attached blue eyed employees were drawing HRA, which was misappropriation of exchequer" said Harshdev. Further narrating the malpractices resorted to by the director, he said that he affected pre mature transfers, which are exclusive domain of the administrative department and such orders of premature transfers were issued by him in exchange for handsome amount as graft. "I brought the matter in the notice of the concerned minister, who assured me to cancel all such orders, but nothing was done, which indicates that he enjoyed political patronage" he added.
Terming the grant of permission/recognition after the superannuation as a serious issue, Harshdev demanded that the director should be arrested and investigations in all misappropriations in the office of the DSEJ during his tenure be ordered. |
