Head of probe team says ZEO staff not cooperating

Shyam Sood

Rajouri, March 5

Senior lecturer Abdul Qayoom Shah, who is heading a two-member inquiry team to probe an alleged scam worth crores, has said the Zonal Education Officer (ZEO), Manjakot, and his clerical staff in Rajouri district were not cooperating with the investigation team.

He said they had visited the ZEO office around eight times in January and February but no record was provided to them on one pretext or other.

“The clerical staff and the ZEO even misbehaved with us a few times. The matter was brought to the notice of the Additional Deputy Commissioner and the Chief Education Officer. Despite that, no record was provided,” said Shah.

Under the New Pension Scheme, 10 per cent of the salary of a teacher has to be deposited in his permanent retirement account number on a monthly basis and the same amount will be deposited by the government.

The Rajouri unit of the J&K Rehbar-e-Taleem Teachers Forum, headed by Aftab Tantrey, alleged that since 2010 the amount was being deducted from the teachers’ accounts, noted in their general pay registers but was not deposited in their accounts.

An amount of Rs 3 crore has been embezzled by the clerical staff of the ZEO office ,including the ZEOs posted since 2010 till date, alleged the teachers’ forum in a complaint (No.99001242343 dated 20/12/2019) lodged with the Lt Governor’s Grievance Cell.

The complaint was forwarded to the Deputy Commissioner, Rajouri, for investigation.

The Chief Education Officer, Rajouri, Ram Sawroop, on January 1, 2020, constituted a two-member inquiry committee comprising Abdul Qayoom Shah, senior lecturer, and Mohammad Hanief, headmaster, Government High School, Manjakot, to probe the matter. “The matter about non-cooperation by the ZEO and his staff has been brought to my notice. A few days ago, the ZEO was directed to cooperate and provide necessary records without further delay,” said the CEO.

The ZEO has promised that he would cooperate and submit the required record soon, the CEO said.

The teachers’ forum has appealed to the Lt Governor to hand over the probe into the alleged scam to the Anti-Corruption Bureau.