By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: The CBI findings on the alleged irregularities in the appointment of assistant teachers in the government lower primary schools in 2009-2010 have revealed that only 19 out 79 candidates of Shillong Sadar, whose names were there in the original merit list, got appointment.
The inquiry report has also revealed that the merit list prepared and submitted by Andreas Sun, Deputy Director Elementary and Mass Education (DEME), was destroyed by the Director JD Sangma under the instruction of the then Education Minister Ampareen Lyngdoh.
Later, the so called merit list (final list) was prepared by Sangma after tampering marks of the candidates by adopting “to bring up” methods, the CBI said.
While there were 79 candidates in the first merit list, the ‘manipulated final list’ contained names of 75 candidates including 19 which were in the original list.
The premier investigating agency has virtually indicted Urban Affairs Minister Lyngdoh, who earlier was the minister in-charge of education, for tampering with the marks in the appointment of school teachers, in its report submitted to Shillong bench of Gauhati High Court.
In its report, the CBI also named Assembly Speaker Charles Pyngrope, his deputy Sanbor Shullai, education minister RC Laloo, social welfare minister JA Lyngdoh and other legislators.
As per the CBI report, the members of the Shillong Board had handed over a copy of the original merit list to the Director DEME.
The member secretary of the Shillong Board after perusal of the merit list of Shillong Sadar observed that 19 candidates of the merit list as prepared by them was also retained in the final list of the selected candidates for the appointment as teachers in LP School.
While several NGOs are now demanding resignation of Ampareen Lyngdoh, Chief Minister Dr Mukul Sangma has refused to comment on the revelations of the CBI saying that the matter is sub-judice. Dr Sangma also expressed surprise that the CBI probe report had been leaked to the media. “It calls for the government to find out from which sources this has come out. I have spoken to the Chief Secretary we will have to find out how it is happening. I am not privy to the report,” Dr Sangma said on Friday. The CBI report 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”.