M A I N   N E W S

Now, fraud in teacher’s selection
Cancel panel member’s wife’s appointment: Lok Pal
Sarbjit Dhaliwal
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, May 29
In another case of alleged fraud in the selections of teachers, the Punjab Lok Pal, Justice D.V. Sehgal, has indicted Raj Singh Deol, Chairman of a selection committee and one of its members, Daljit Singh Brar, Deputy Director, Sainik Welfare, Muktsar, according to informed sources.

In fact, Raj Singh Deol has been indicted in the second case by Justice Sehgal. Earlier, he was indicted by the Lok Pal in the Nisha Kaura case.

This case reveals how certain members of the selection committee played a dubious role in selecting their close relatives and deny the job to genuine ex-servicemen.

Justice Sehgal in the order has stated, I hold that Raj Singh Deol and Daljit Singh Brar were actuated by motives of self-interest and improper motive and are, therefore, guilty of having committed misconduct under Section 3 (1) ( a) of the Punjab Lok Pal Act, 1996”. He has left it to the authorities concerned to decide the appropriate action against them.

Justice Sehgal has recommended the cancellation of the selection of Mrs Sinderpal Kaur, wife of Daljit Singh Brar, as it has been declared illegal and void and ultra vires of Rule 4. At the same time, the Lok Pal has recommended that Mr Kartar Singh Sangha, who was wrongfully held ineligible for alleged non-production of the original ex-serviceman’s certificate and who holds the requisite educational qualification and a long teaching experience should be treated to have been duly selected for the post of JBT teacher. His seniority should be determined by treating him to have been selected on July 20, 2001.

Mr Sangha filed a complaint to the Lok Pal on January 10, this year, alleging foul play in the selection of teachers for posts reserved for ex-servicemen. After obtaining duly tested certificate of ex-serviceman on April 24 last year, Mr Sangha applied for the post of JBT teacher. He was called to appear in interview on July 20 last year. Before going for interview, he again procured the original certificate from Mr Daljit Singh Brar on July 16 as he was told to produce it at the time of interview. Earlier certificate, Mr Sangha says was also attached with the application submitted for the job.

However, at the time of interview, Mr Daljit Singh Brar, who was a member of the selection committee for teachers, declared him ineligible for not producing the original certificate of ex-serviceman at the interview. Mr Sangha repeatedly insisted that he had given the original certificate to one clerk, Mr Chawla, who was deputed to check the testimonials and certificates etc.

In fact, it appears that everything was manipulated to give the job to Mrs Sinderpal Kaur. According to sources, Justice Sehgal has commented, “I have no hesitation to hold that they cooked up an untrue story of non-production of the original ex-serviceman certificate by the complainant”. Mr Brar, who himself had issued the certificate twice to Mr Sangha new, that Mr Sangha was an ex-serviceman. But he held him ( Mr Sangha) ineligible by giving unfounded reasons. The Lok Pal believed that Mr Sangha had produced both the certificates to complete the formality of his being eligible to be selected in the ex-serviceman category.

The Lok Pal has also found that Mrs Sinderpal Kaur was not eligible to be selected as a dependent of an ex-serviceman because her husband, Mr Brar, had already been selected as Deputy Director from the ex-servicemen’s quota. As Mr Brar has himself availed the benefit of reservation, his wife or dependent children cannot be recruited against a reserved vacancy.

The Lok Pal has come out with the finding that the experience certificate of a Bathinda-based school produced by Mrs Sinderpal Kaur as part of her application for the job was not genuine. If the department or the appointing authority deemed it proper, it could take action against Mrs Sinderpal Kaur with regard to the experience certificate.