Punjab: Bogus vacancies created to help teachers join govt schools near home, one sacked

The order issued by DGSE office states that as per the preliminary inquiry, conducted by Amninder Kaur Brar, director, State Council of Educational Research and Training (SCERT), the said employee was “found guilty” of creating bogus vacancies in schools which were later filled by the teachers whose homes were in vicinity.

The order undersigned by Parminder Pal Singh, Additional Secretary, education department cum officiating DGSE, reads that several discrepancies were reported in the online station allotments for 4,161 and 598 master cadre teachers (the newly recruited teachers for grade 6 to 10).

After the discrepancies were reported, an inquiry was marked to the director, SCERT.

“According to the probe report, new vacancies on e-Punjab portal were created in connivance with MIS wing employees, and the teachers were made to join those stations which were near to their homes,” states the order.

The order adds that Rajvir, deputy manager, MIS “has been found guilty” for the irregularities which were reported in the entire process, and he was asked for an explanation. However, his reply was found “unsatisfactory”, the order states.

“Hence, his services are being terminated with immediate effect,” the order concludes.

Talking to the Indian Express, Additional Secretary Parminder Pal Singh said: “The action against the said employee has been taken as per the findings of the preliminary report which indicates that data of vacancies was tampered at the backend to which only MIS team has the access. Other aspects will be probed further.”

Meanwhile, teachers said that this was “just the tip of an iceberg” and a “deeper probe was required” to find other links behind the alleged scam. “This also indicates that teachers who were favored might have bribed some employees. Just one person cannot be made a scapegoat as new vacancies are never created without the approval of the finance department. Widespread discrepancies happened during the station allotment for both newly recruited and promoted teachers. For instance, a school in a village having several vacancies is still lacking teachers. How did this happen?”

Vikram Dev, state president, Democratic Teachers Front (DTF) said: “Those who were favored with such practices also need to be identified and action should be taken against them. The department has never adopted a transparent approach when it comes to declaring vacancies during promotions, transfers and new recruitments. This is what leads to such practices. It is clear that employees were apparently bribed to get choice postings.”