IO failed to submit progress report due to demise of father-in-law, HC told
Education scam
SHILLONG: High Court of Meghalaya on Tuesday granted police two weeks’ time to submit the progress report into the FIRs relating to alleged education scam pertaining to the appointment of assistant teachers in government-run lower-primary schools in the state.
The court passed the order after East Khasi Hills district police chief M Kharkrang informed the Court that the Investigation Officer (IO) could not come and file the progress report related to the matter due to the sudden demise of his father-in-law.
The court granted two weeks’ time while accepting the request of Kharkrang in this regard.
However, the personal appearance of the Kharkrang was dispensed with in future.
Source, however, said the father-in-law of the Investigation Officer N Thohrem passed away on June 19 whereas the Court had passed an order giving two weeks’ time to place the progress report related to the education scam on June 3.
Sources pointed out that during the two weeks’ time which expired on June 17, the Investigation Officer should have prepared the progress report.
Sources also said that the Investigation Officer has been promoted to the rank of DSP on June 9.
It was on October 21, 2011, that the judge of then Shillong bench of the Gauhati High Court, Justice T. Vaiphei (now a judge of Tripura High Court) had passed an order directing for an inquiry by the CBI into the alleged large-scale manipulation and irregularities in the appointment of assistant teachers in government lower-primary schools in 2009.
BJP on Edu scam: Meanwhile, BJP’s Meghalaya incharge Nalin Kohli has slammed the State Government over the infamous education scam which rocked the state in 2009.
Speaking to media persons on Tuesday, he said that education scam is the tip of the iceberg.
He said that if BJP comes to power in 2018 it would bring to light the scams committed by the Mukul Sangma-led Congress government.