THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: During the lightning inspection conducted by vigilance in the education department, widespread irregularities were found in the district education offices. It was found that the teaching posts were allotted randomly in many places. It was also found that 4,699 applications, including teacher and non-teacher appointments, were hoarded without a decision, and no further action was taken in 2,577 files, including revision appeal petitions. A lightning inspection was conducted in 41 district education offices and the directorate of general education.
Files are hoarded in various sections like District Education Officer, District Education Officer's PA, Junior Superintendent, etc. Vigilance had received intelligence that applications submitted by aided school managements were being delayed for bribes.
Despite the District Education Officer rejecting an application to regularize the appointment of UP teachers in aided schools in Kothamangalam and Kanhangad district education offices, the teachers were found to be working in the schools without salary. Vigilance says this is a shortcut to get recognition with retrospective effect. Applications related to PF, annual increment, increment arrears, DA arrears and leave settlement of teachers and non-teaching staff are also not processed. While many bills are passed months later, some petitions have been acted upon quickly. It was also found that the aided schools did not enter the information for the appointment of differently-abled persons in the synchronization software. Vigilance chief Manoj Abraham said that complaints about appointments in aided schools will continue to be investigated.
Irregularities to be investigated