The Administration will initiate vigilance proceedings against the principal and four teachers of Government Senior Secondary School,Sector 45,for gross misconduct and abuse of authority and misappropriation of funds. This was stated by Home Secretary Ram Niwas on the basis of an inquiry report submitted by Sub-Divisional-Magistrate Prerna Puri following complaints received by students. Students had complained that school authorities had been collecting Rs 45 each for issuing an identity card,report card and school diary in violation of the norms laid down by the Education department. In another violation of the departments instructions,the principal had also collected PTA funds from students. The Administration had ordered an inquiry into the matter and the report has found the principal Alka Mehta and teachers Narendra Shastri,Sheo Ram,Surinder Kaur and Neelam Thakur guilty of financial irregularities. The report also accuses Shastri of inflicting corporal punishment on students of Class VIII,including girls,to force them to sign a circular and give their consent for collection of funds. Meanwhile,Surinder Kaur and Neelam Thakur have been held guilty of unauthorised collection of funds and irregularities in the accounts register maintained by them. The report also points out that the teachers,who have no experience of accounts,were acting at the behest of the principal. They were also found to be having over Rs 20,000 in their personal possession. During the course of inquiry,the principal and teachers admitted that no bills were obtained for the various purchases to avoid VAT charges. Principal Alka Mehta and the teachers have been accused of running the school as a personal fiefdom, thereby demeaning the spirit of education. Talking to Newsline,Ram Niwas said,We will immediately get the Vigilance Bureau to book the accused as charges against them have already been established. This will also deter others from indulging in such malpractices.
