STATE TIMES NEWS
JAMMU: The Anti Corruption Bureau (ACB) produced charge-sheet against former Chief Educational Officer (ZEO), former Zonal Educational Officer (ZEO) and two other officials of Education Department on Tuesday before the Court of Special Judge Anti-Corruption, Jammu for judicial determination.
As per an official spokesperson, the ACB produced charge sheet of the case registered under FIR 29/2017 under sections 5 (1) (d) read with 5 (2) of J&K PC Act Svt. 2006 and 120-B of RPC against one Tarsem Lal, the then Chief Education Officer (now retired), Ram Rakha, the then ZEO Chowki Choura Jammu, Sheru Ram, the then Headmaster Govt. High School Mallah (now retired) and Priti Rani ReT Teacher.
He further said that this case was registered on the outcome of a verification conducted into allegations on receipt of a complaint lodged by one Kasturi Lal, son of Kaka Ram, resident of Malla, Tehsil Karah Balli, District Jammu against Sheru Ram, the then Headmaster Govt. High School Mallah, and others stating that these public servants misused their official positions for extraneous consideration to give undue benefit to one Priti Rani, daughter of Bachan Dass, resident of Mallah, Tehsil Karah Balli, District Jammu for appointing her as ReT Teacher in Govt. High School Mallah against a vacancy, meant for ALC candidate.
“Accused beneficiary Priti Rani at the time of advertisement of post as well as at time of joining was not possessing any valid ALC certificate. The investigation further revealed that in order to confer undue benefit upon Priti Rani, the then Chief Education Officer Jammu, namely Tarsem Lal, misusing his official position as public servant vide endorsement No. CEOJ/7931 dated May 28, 2014 forwarded the aforesaid order to Zonal Education Officer, Chowki Choura. The then Zonal Education Officer Chowki Choura, who was well aware of facts that neither Priti Rani had submitted valid ALC Certificate at the time of submission of application form nor thereafter but nevertheless in order to confer undue benefit upon Priti Rani by abuse and misuse of his official position as public servant issued engagement order vide No. ZEO/CC/SSA/14-15/1468-71 dated May 29, 2014 ordering appointment of Priti Rani as ReT Teacher against vacant post at Govt. High School, Mallah,” he added.
The official further said that investigation revealed that pursuant to aforersaid order, Priti Rani joined at Govt. High School Mallah on May 29, 2014 but at the time of joining also she failed to produce requisite valid ALC Certificate before the Headmaster Govt. High School, Mallah namely Sheru Ram. In furtherance to criminal conspiracy hatched, then Headmaster Govt. High School, Mallah accepted her joining report and allowed her to perform duties. “The offence of conspiracy got established when after joining, Priti Rani was immediately transferred from aforesaid school to the Office of Chief Education Officer, Jammu by accused Tarsem Lal, then CEO Jammu,” he asserted, adding that next date of hearing has been fixed on September 4, 2021.