The Delhi LG VK Saxena has directed the chief secretary to conduct an internal inquiry into the “irregularities” in the engagement of guest teachers in Aam Aadmi Party (AAP)-run Delhi Government Schools.
LG has asked the chief secretary to advise the director (education) to immediately verify the engagement, physical attendance, and withdrawal of salaries of all guest teachers engaged by the AAP government in Delhi government schools. The status report has to be submitted within 30 days.
The development is likely to set another run of tussle between Delhi LG Saxena and AAP. Before this, Saxena had directed to probe the anomalies in excise, education and Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) departments of the Delhi government.
According to the latest development, LG Saxena has observed instances of non-existent guest teachers and embezzlement of funds. Sources in the LG office told The New Indian that this is a “serious concern” and cannot occur without the “connivance of the principals, vice principals, or accounts staff”.
“Such instances of fraudulent withdrawal of government funds should be met with exemplary and deterrent action. The mechanism of internal audit should be strengthened so that such instances do not go unnoticed and unpunished,” sources from the LG office added.
The LG had earlier granted permission to the Anti-Corruption Branch (ACB) to investigate four serving and retired vice principals for fraudulently drawing guest teachers’ salaries in the name of “non-existent guest teachers” in the Govt. Boys Senior Secondary School (GBSSS-I) in Mansarovar Park, Delhi.
The case pertains to the payment of ₹4.21 lakh to three persons, namely Samiksha Arya (₹1,35,900), Uma Shastri (₹1,42,078) and Chottey Lal (₹1,43,678) even though “neither of the three names was appointed in the school.”