DPC suspended for fake recognition to schools

Indore: Four years since the case of fake recognition of schools surfaced, directorate of public instruction suspended school education district project coordinator Akshay SIngh Rathore. Rathore has been suspended from his position and posted in the joint director, education department’s office now. DPI commissioner Anubha Shrivastava on Thursday issued the suspension order for Rathore which read, “As per the information received from director, state education centre, through a letter dated 1.03.2023, a case has been registered against Akshay Singh Rathore at Rajendra Nagar police station for using the login and password of district education officer for providing recognition to nine schools through fraudulent means. Such acts are against Madhya Pradesh services code of conduct. Thus, Akshay Singh Rathore is suspended under Madhya Pradesh Civil Services Rules 1966.” The incident, which dates back to 2019, involved Rathore allegedly approving the recognition of the schools while serving as the in-charge district education officer in absence of the DEO. Following complaints, Neha Meena, the then zila panchayat CEO ordered an inquiry into the matter. Subsequently, an FIR was registered against Rathore and Dhirendra Parihar, programmer at the Rajendra Nagar police station after an internal probe headed by Meena. The case revolves around the misuse of digital signatures and passwords to grant unauthorized affiliation to the private schools. Currently, the matter is pending in district court. The programmer, Dhirendra Parihar had confessed to committing the crime under pressure from four block resource officers (BRCs) and two acquaintances.Meanwhile, Rathore has expressed his disappointment over the order ,“It is shocking for me to see this letter. The matter is subjudice and I have been suspended without any valid evidence. The programmer has accepted the crime and I am not involved in the matter. I trust the judiciary and will wait for the verdict.”