Chandigarh, July 8
The probe by Justice AN Jindal Commission, appointed by the Punjab Government to inquire into the purchase and supply of library books, science kits and map masters by the state Education Department, has failed to make any headway although three weeks have passed since it started functioning. The reason: No one is coming forward with evidence.
Even the office of the Director General of School Education (DGSE), which was responsible for the distribution of central funds received under the Sarv Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) and the Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan (RMSA), has not submitted any documents to the commission. The same office had provided relevant documents to the central team that visited Punjab to probe the issue.
Record submitted:
DGSE
Director General of School Education KS Pannu said his office on Monday submitted to the Jindal Commission the record of books purchased from the Language Department and University Textbook Board.
The books were purchased by following a proper procedure as per the SSA financial manual issued by the Union Government.
He said his office did not have any record of the library books, science kits and map masters purchased/supplied by the DPI (Elementary) on the recommendations of a committee formed by the minister.
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DGSE Kahan Singh Pannu, who is involved in a controversy with Education Minister Sikander Singh Maluka as he had reportedly resisted the purchase and supply of library books by a committee appointed by the minister, has met Justice Jindal once. The judge said Pannu made a formal visit to his office, but no record had been received from the office of the DGSE so far.
Justice Jindal said the commission had given four advertisements in newspapers requesting people to appear personally or send relevant information by registered post to it before July 15. As there had been no response to the appeal, the commission today decided to impress upon the state government’s Director, Public Relations, to ensure wider publicity for the notice so that everyone became aware about it.
When asked if the inquiry would get delayed beyond three months with the DGSE proceeding on long leave, he said Pannu’s absence from
his office should not affect the functioning of the commission.
He refuted allegations that he or his family had any link with the Education Minister. Even the family of his in-laws, which was said have links with Maluka, had left Barnala in 1964, he said. “My relation is with justice only and it is you (the media) which is trying to portray as if my in-laws have some link with Maluka. It is completely false,” he said. He claimed he had been a judge for 17 years and a practising lawyer for 21 years. “Where was Maluka then?” he said.
