Can’t trust Employment News ads

The fake advertisement — given in the name of a ‘‘Centre for Rural Educational Research & Training’’ falling under the Department of Education — also asked prospective candidates to send Rs 80 with the application forms. SC/ST candidates were asked to send in Rs 30.

‘‘There are so many government departments that it is very difficult for us to differentiate and it wasn’t detected before publication,’’ said an official at Employment News who also admitted that advertisements — coming in from government departments all over the country — aren’t verified before they are published in the paper.

The advertisement and letter was sent on the letterhead of the ‘‘director general of the Education Department’’, according to News officials.

Taken in by the huge number of posts and also the attractive eligibility criteria, hopeful candidates applied by thousands. The criteria for applying for the posts was a degree from a recognised university for the post of middle school teacher and XII class pass for the post of primary teacher. The advertisement came complete with various interview centres and their respective codes.

The scam came to light after the Mysore post office — which received over 40,000 applications — couldn’t find the address and intimated the News. Employment News officials claim they discovered the ad was fake by April 8, three days after the issue was published. ‘‘We discovered the mistake in three days and we immediately took action. Nobody was cheated,’’ said S.N. Pradhan, editor-in-charge of advertising matter.

Government officials admit they are surprised that such an advertisement was passed by the newspaper. ‘‘It’s quite surprising that such a thing happened with Employment News,’’ said one official.

On investigating in Mysore, police found the address was fake and no such department existed. ‘‘We went and checked the address. The Postal Department returned all the applications so they couldn’t fraudulently encash the cheques,’’ said Mysore City Commissioner V. Gopalkrishnan.

This followed a correction, which the Employment News put out in its April 19-25 issue. ‘‘On verification it was found that the organisation does not exist… Inconvenience is regretted,’’ the Editor-Advertising said. But officials admit there is still no process of verification being followed. ‘‘We get 100 to 150 advertisements every day. It’s not possible to verify each one,’’ said an official.

A 28-year-old publication of the Publications Division of the I&B Ministry — the Employment News — is popular career and employment guide for various government jobs.