Shillong, January 30: Opposition United Democratic Party (UDP) feels that there is a need to ‘review’ and ‘re-investigate’ into the teachers job scam unearthed by the Central Investigation Bureau (CBI) and demanded the resignation of Urban affairs minister Ampareen Lyngdoh ,who was holding the education portfolio in the last term when the scam surfaced.
The High Level Scrutiny Committee (HLSC) set up by the state government to probe into the entire scam had recommended the termination of 246 lower primary school teachers, who were alleged to have got the teachers job through unfair means.
But the UDP acting general secretary Allan F Dkhar told reporters on Thursday, “This entire case needs to be review.” He pointed out that the CBI had only taken the statement of the officials but had never interrogated the minister ( Ampareen Lyngdoh)
Stating that the CBI in its report had clearly mentioned that the tampering of score sheets was done at the behest of Lyngdoh- who was the then education minister- Dkhar said, “We fail to understand under which law the minister who is currently continuing her office is being protected.”
The CBI in its report said that former director of elementary & mass education JD Sangma had told the investigating agency that under the instruction of then minister of education he had to change the score sheets by applying white fluid on the original marks.
According to Dkhar, he said this is most unfortunate and grave injustice meted out to the officers who merely carried out the activity based on the order of the minister, while the minister is scot free.
Demanding for Lyngdoh’s immediate resignation, Dkhar said, “It is the moral responsibility of any public leader that when any allegation has been leveled against them and proven in black and white, he/she is morally bound to step aside and allow for free and fair investigation.”
Dkhar further stated that ordering tampering of the mark-sheets is highly criminal in nature as the names of the meritorious candidates was struck down and instead appoint non-deserving teachers who will be teaching the children who are the future generation.
Referring to the chief minister’s statement that the Lokayukta will not tolerate any corruption practices, Dkhar said, “If this case (job scam) is referred to the Lokayukta then we will say yes, the chief minister has walked the talk.” Stating that the party has nothing to comment on the court’s direction to the state government, he however said, “But the question here is what has happened to the FIR filed by a renowned woman activist relating to this case.”
It may also be mentioned that on November 7, 2012, the Civil Society Women Organization (CSWO) has sought police action against the state ministers and legislators named by the CBI in the job scam report.
The CBI had named five cabinet ministers that include former assembly speaker and six legislators in the Congress-led coalition government besides other politicians for recommending their candidates at the cost of the deserving candidates who had appeared for the post of assistant teachers in 2010.
On this, Dkhar said to make recommendation is not wrong as any public representative has every right to make recommendation but it is the responsibility of the one who hold the authority to look into that.”
Dkhar informed that the UDP would soon hold a meeting to discuss the issue next week.
Based on the direction of the HLSC, the state government has issued show-cause notices to 246 teachers asking why action cannot be taken against them and had fixed January 10 as the last date for submitting their replies.
Sources said that the department is still processing the replies submitted by the teachers before action are initiated against them. Out of the 246, 53 teachers are from Shillong, 92 teachers from Jowai, 37 from Amlarem, 21 from Tura and 43 from Dadenggre.- By Our Reporter
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