The J&K School Education Department (SED) has terminated the services of two teachers after their appointments were declared null and void.
The move comes two months after the Directorate of School Education Kashmir (DSEK) in June terminated the services of a teacher from Tangmarg for making entry into the School Education Department (SED) after producing fake appointment orders.
Meanwhile, in the latest development, the two teachers, identified as Farooq Ahmad Bhat and Shabir Ahmad Bhat, both residents of Kulgam, were recruited by the Education Department for several years.
However, as per the termination order, an investigation by the Crime Branch Kashmir (CBK), initiated under FIR No 13/2021 U/S 420, 468, 471, 120-B RPC, and 5 (2) PC Act, revealed that their appointment orders were forged.
As per the official document, the investigation started following a communication received by the Directorate of School Education (DSEK) from the Crime Branch, which sought the production of the original appointment orders of the two teachers.
However, the order reads that Farooq Ahmad Bhat and Shabir Ahmad Bhat could not produce the original documents.
“Farooq claimed his documents were lost in the 2014 floods, while Shabir claimed that his documents were under the custody of CBK. Subsequent verification of the appointment orders from the Directorate of School Education Kashmir (DSEK) found that the orders were not issued by the directorate, raising serious concerns about the authenticity of their employment,” the official document reads.
Following this, an in-depth inquiry was started by the Joint Director (South) School Education, which confirmed the appointments were made through fraudulent means.
“The inquiry revealed that both individuals had never been legitimately appointed in the School Education Department. The Zonal Education Officer (ZEO) of Devsar, Kulgam, where the teachers claimed to have initially joined, confirmed that neither had been posted in the zone nor had any salary been drawn or disbursed in their favour from 2003 onwards,” the official document reads.
Notably, an inquiry committee was constituted by the DSEK which recommended that the appointments of Farooq Ahmad Bhat and Shabir Ahmad Bhat be declared void ab initio and also suggested that recovery proceedings be initiated to recoup the financial losses caused by their fraudulent employment.
“Keeping in view the above facts and circumstances, the fraudulent entries managed by Farooq Ahmad Bhat and Shabir Ahmad Bhat on the basis of mentioned orders being non-est in the eyes of law, are hereby declared null and void, ab initio. Consequently, the benefits drawn out of the said fake entry shall be recovered immediately from the subjects,” reads the termination order issued by DSEK.
Notably, a copy of the termination order has been sent to the Deputy Commissioner (DC) Kulgam with a request for immediate recovery of the misappropriated funds. (GK)
