Anomalies in teachers’ recruitment: CBI names politicians
By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: The CBI, which probed the alleged irregularities in the appointment of Assistant teachers in government Lower Primary schools in 2009-2010, has virtually indicted former education minister Ampareen Lyngdoh for her role in manipulation of scoresheets of the candidates to fulfill ‘recommendations’ of several politicians including the Assembly Speaker Charles Pyngrope.
Lyngdoh’s role in influencing the selection process came to light following revelations made by an official of the Education department to the CBI.
The CBI report, which was submitted to Gauhati High Court, said that JD Sangma, the then Director, Directorate of Elementary and Mass Education (DEME) (now known as School Education and Literacy), was examined and in the course of his examination, Sangma stated that “under the instruction of the then Education Minister Ampareen Lyngdoh, he had to change the score sheet as prepared by the five boards duly applying white fluid on the original marks as awarded by the members of the board”.
“The work of tampering of score sheet was partially made at the residence of minister and at his (Sangma) official residence,” the CBI finding added.
In the 107-page report, the CBI revealed that majority of the candidates under five stations-Jowai, Shillong, Amlarem, Tura and Dadenggiri were appointed in irregular manner by changing their original marks on experience, education and qualification.
The CBI conducted the inquiry after the Court directed the agency to conduct a thorough probe into the entire matter after several deprived candidates had moved the court seeking justice.
Besides Lyngdoh, a few other ministers have also been named in connection with irregularities in the selection of candidates in the report.
During examination , Sangma further disclosed that based on the letters or slips of paper containing recommendations in respect of candidates from Ministers, MLAs and MDCs for appointment of their candidates as LP teachers, he with two supporters of the Education Minister applied white fluid on the score sheet and inflated the number of candidates ordered to be appointed by the Education Minister.
Sangma also handed over a file containing lists received by the minister from different politicians (Ministers,MLAs and MDCs) recommending the names of the candidates for selection, the report stated.
“Majority of candidates were appointed in irregular manner by changing their original marks on account of experience, education, qualification in the scoresheet by applying white fluid (correction ink),” the report said, adding the board members expressed surprise to see manipulated score sheets.
The CBI found that the work of tampering of score sheet was partially carried out at the residence of minister and also at Sangma’s official residence.
The Director of DEME has also issued appointment letters to 111 candidates in Jowai, 75 candidates in Shillong,53 candidates in Amlarem,60 candidates in Tura and 76 candidates in Dadenggri.
It was also exposed in the findings that altogether 255 names were recommended by ministers, MLAs and MDCs.
The file containing the recommendations of candidates was also scrutinized by the CBI and it revealed that 37 candidates were recommended by the present Soil and Water Conservation Minister RC Laloo while MLA Sniawbhalang Dhar recommended 30 names. Even the former MLA RL Tariang recommended 29 candidates.
Ronnnie V Lyngdoh (MLA) recommended 15 candidates while Parliamentary Secretary Remington Pyngrope recommended as many as 47 candidates.
According to the CBI report, Meghalaya Legislative Assembly Speaker Charles Pyngrope too recommended 3 candidates whereas Deputy Speaker Sanbor Shullai recommended 4 candidates. The present GAD minister AL Hek and Forest and Environment Minister Prestone Tynsong too recommended 7 and 20 candidates respectively.
Former Ministers Limison Sangma and Donkupar Massar were also not far behind as they recommended 37 and 2 candidates. F War, Adviser to Chief Minister and Moonlight Pariat, MDC from Jaintia Hills also recommended 3 and 11 candidates respectively. The Social Welfare Minister JA Lyngdoh too recommended 6 candidates while L Malngiang, (MDC) recommended 4 names. The CBI report further said that most of the recommended names secured appointments. The CBI inquiry was conducted in five sub-stations as referred by the High Court while no inquiry was conducted in ten other sub-divisions.
The issue came to light when a group of candidates who had applied for the posts in Jowai, Jaintia Hills district unearthed massive irregularities or manipulation in the selection and appointment of assistant teachers in lower primary schools. After going through the CBI report, the Shillong Bench of the Gauhati High Court while taking strong note of the findings asserted that it will be the duty of the State Government not to spare any officer or authority howsoever high he may be. After the submission of the CBI report, unable to accept the findings, the State Government filed a petition before the Division Bench of the Gauhati High Court to allow constitution of separate inquiry. The Court after hearing the petition has directed the Meghalaya Education department to constitute a high-level committee to inquire into alleged manipulation in the appointment of assistant teachers in Government Lower Primary Schools. The Division Bench has also ruled that the Committee could avail beneficial assistance from legitimate findings of the CBI inquiry report which is said to be lying with the State Government under sealed cover.
The State Government had also appealed before the Division Bench of the Gauhati High Court to quash the CBI enquiry report into the alleged manipulation.
The CBI had begun its probe in November last year and hundreds of witnesses, including government officials and aggrieved candidates, were cross-examined by the investigating agency.
