Days after newly-printed textbooks meant for free distribution in government schools were found at a city recycling centre, the general manager of the Chhattisgarh Textbook Corporation has been suspended. In an official statement Friday, the state’s Vishnu Deo Sai government announced the suspension of Prem Prakash Sharma, a state administrative officer posted as general manager of the textbook corporation. Significantly, Sharma was part of the panel instituted by the state government to inquire into the allegations. “The fact has come to light that the books printed by Chhattisgarh Text Book Corporation, Raipur in the year 2024-25 are being sold as junk. The State Government has taken this incident seriously, prima facie negligence is reflected, the State Government hereby suspends Shri Prem Prakash Sharma, (RPSC RR-2013), General Manager, Chhattisgarh Text Book Corporation, Raipur with immediate effect under Rule 9 of Chhattisgarh Civil Services (Classification, Control and Appeal) Rules, 1966,” the suspension order said. During the suspension period, Sharma will report to General Administration Department, Mahanadi Bhawan, Nava Raipur Atal Nagar, the order said, adding that he can “leave the headquarters only after the permission of the competent officer”. On September 15, former Congress MLA Vikas Upadhyay claimed to have found piles of school textbooks for Classes 1-10 at a recycling center in Raipur, prompting the Chhattisgarh government to initiate an inquiry. The books, all published this year by the Chhattisgarh Textbook Corporation under the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan, were allegedly sold to scrap dealers who further sold it to a recycling center at throw away prices. Despite the state government’s inquiry into the allegations, Upadhyay demanded a probe by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) or a retired high court judge. “It's unfair that the department which is under scrutiny is given the responsibility to probe into the allegations,” he had said at a press conference then.
