Early Times Report
Rajouri, Apr 18: A scam involving crores of rupees involving sale of government books in the open market has surfaced in the education department in Rajouri district.
During preliminary departmental inquiry conducted on Tuesday by the Chief Education Officer, the probe teams seized government books ( for 6th, 7th & 8th standard) from the students in the private institutions and a book shop situated at village Saj.
The shop was also sealed in presence of Tehsildar and according to CEO office order the private institutions involved ( where the books were seized from the students) have been identified as HSS Engilsh Medium at Bawli, HSS school at Ratil, Public school at Saj; Iqra Model High School, Elite HSS , Saj; MET , HSS at Thanamandi; Yasin English Public School, MIE at Planager and Little Angel HSS ,Rajdhani.
Ch Lal Hussain, CEO on the complaints by the people had constituted two teams, headed by Abdul Qayoom Nadvi, Principal and Rajesh Kumar Gupta, senior Lecturer to investigate the complaints in Thanamandi Education Zone.
"Team members found government books, supplied by the Education department for free distribution among the students of government schools, in possession of students in private schools and from a book shop at Saj which was later sealed.
"After going through the reports submitted by the inquiry teams, CEO vide his office letter dated 17/4/2018 informed the DDC and Director School Education about the nexus and also moved an application at Thanamandi police station to lodge FIR in this matter.
"On the written complaint of the CEO, police have lodged a case under section 109 and 409 RPC against the book seller and others and investigation has been started.
Meanwhile, Dr Shahid Iqbal Choudhry, DDC has also directed all the ADCs, SDMs and Tehsildars to carry out inspections in their respective areas in this connection.
"More than 25 schools have been caught so far for selling such books. Samples have also been lifted from several private schools. Major scam has been deducted by the district administration" said DDC.
Rupees worth crores have been spent by the J&K Board of School Education on printing of these books for free distribution among the students of government schools. These books were to be distributed through concerned ZEOs as per their official recorded ennoblement. A big nexus between book sellers and government officials can't be ruled out. "
Another senior education officer said, "Whether the nexus was between the officials of ZEO office or with the officials at Directorate level, is a matter of detailed investigation because from current session ZEOs were authorised to collect the books from Directorate office". |
