Probes in fraud cases in education department get to nowhere
Srinagar: As many as 300 cases of funds embezzlement under different schemes at various levels have been reported in the school education department over the years.
These cases of misappropriation of funds include fresh cases as well as other registered during past three to four years against various zonal education officers (ZEOs) and the clerical staff of the education department. Headmasters are also included in the list of accused officers for swindling government money.
An official in the department said some officials have been charged in the cases of fraud recruitment of ReT teachers as well.
“Some have committed frauds in construction works and some have gulped money under various schemes,” an official said.
He said some cases of fund embezzlement are probed by vigilance and crime department while as some cases are probed by inquiry and monitoring wing of the department.
“Those cases which involve misappropriation of huge amount of money are referred to vigilance or crime department,” the official said.
He said the zonal educational officers and their clerical staff are mostly involved in misappropriation of funds under various erstwhile centrally sponsored schemes like Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA), RashtriyaMadhiyamik Shiksha Abhiyan (RMSA) and Mid-Day Meals (MDM).
“Some cases have been established against the accused officials and department has ordered for recovery of funds embezzled by them. These officials are suspended and are paying the money towards the department which they have gulped during their services fraudulently,” the official said.
He said the department is probing the cases of accused officials who have attained retirement from the department. “But their cases are still undecided and investigations are going on,” he said.
The official said the embezzlement cases of Gazetted rank officers like ZEOs, headmasters, Principals are referred to administrative department to initiate disciplinary action.
“Most of the officers have swindled money which was meant for construction of school buildings under SSA and RMSA while as some have swindled money meant for MDM scheme,” he said.
KV Correspondent
