Fake schools run in Bellary to pocket grants

Eight primary schools in Kudligi, Hospet, Sandur and Bellary taluks of Bellary district and one primary school in Jagalur taluk of Davanagere faced the axe after officials found that some of them existed only on paper. The schools have drawn away crores of rupees as grant-in-aid.

These are: Ujjaini Jagadguru Model Higher Primary School, Ujjaini Jagadguru Siddeshwara Higher Primary School, Dr B.R. Ambedkar Model Higher Primary School, Sri Chikkanakoppa Channaveera Sharanara Higher Primary School, Ujjaini Jagadguru Higher Primary School and Ujjaini Jagadguru Siddeshwara Model Higher Primary School, all in Bellary, and Ujjaini Jagadguru Siddeshwara Higher Primary School in Davanagere.

The Education Department notification, quoting the probe team’s report, said the schools run by Sri Sharabeshwara Vidya Peetha, Sri UGC Vidyavardhaka Sangha, Ujjaini Jagadguru Siddeshwara Vidya Vardhaka Sangha, Sharabheshwara Vidya Peetha and Ujjaini Siddeshwara Vidya Samsthe in Bellary were all fictitious names of a single management held by S.N. Dakshina Murthy, a resident of Bellary.

The notification added that the management was running schools under various names to claim grants from the government. ‘‘In support of the existence of these societies, no original documents/evidence have been made available. In fact, the Revenue Department has clearly stated that the managements are fictitious and steps must be taken to discontinue the grants.’’

The order highlighted that Ujjaini Jagadguru Siddheshwara Vidya Vardhaka Sangha does not exist and, therefore, the ‘‘alleged transfer of the society (held by an SC management) to Sharabheshwara Vidya Peetha cannot be held legal and valid’’.

Baligar said the Education Department is also investigating the involvement of officials in the racket. It has stopped grant to such fake schools in Tumkur, Chitradurga, Bijapur, Bagalkot and Gulbarga districts too.