CS-led panel set up to hear tainted teachers

SHILLONG: The state government has constituted a committee to hear the grievances of tainted teachers in response to the High Court order on the education scam.
According to the notification issued by the Principal Secretary to Education Department DP Wahlang on November 28, Chief Secretary Y Tsering will head the committee with members, joint secretary, Home and Political departments VR Syiem and educationist and former principal of Shillong College MPR Lyngdoh.
The committee will have to submit the report to the Education Department within 60 days with orders against each and every claimant.
Earlier, the Division Bench of the High Court of Meghalaya in its order on November 2 provided provisions for the candidates who have been found tainted or blemished in the CBI report and the High Level Scrutiny Committee report to make a representation to the Chief Secretary for consideration as untainted candidates.
“The chief secretary shall get such representations examined by a three-member committee, comprising himself and one member from the state civil services having unblemished service record and of impeccable integrity and one independent member from any central or state educational institution or university,” the order had said.
According to the court order, the committee will take a decision on such representations within 60 days of its formation and if the committee accepts the representation and treat the candidate as untainted, he or she will be entitled to the right of participation in the fresh selection process on a par with other untainted candidates.
However, the court made it clear that if the committee would confirm the tainted character of any candidate, he or she will be permanently debarred from seeking any government employment and will also be liable for a penalty of Rs 50,000 to be deposited in the State Disaster Management Fund.