FIR likely against 67 fake para teachers

BOKARO: The district education department, following DC Aarva Rajkamal's directive, has sent a letter to seven block development officers (BDOs) to lodge named FIRs against the 67 para teachers who got jobs by submitting fake B Ed certificates. They BDOs have also been asked to start the process of dismissal against the para teachers.
These 67 para teachers were appointed in 2012 and posted in different schools in Jaridih, Kasmar, Gomia, Chandankyari, Petarwar, Chas and other blocks.It was deputy superintendent of education Bokaro Purendra Vikram Sahi, who on conducting an inquiry, found that these candidates had submitted fake B Ed certificates of Utkal University, Odisha.
There are 4,624 para teachers in the district deployed at 1,764 government schools, comprising middle and primary schools, to teach 1.7 lakh students. The education officials believe the number of fake para teachers would increase if they verified all para-teachers' certificates, sources said.
Sahi conducted the inquiry following complaints. Most of the complainants said there was a gang which provided fake B Ed certificates of Utkal University, Odisha to these para teachers.
During inquiry, the education officials sought verification statement from Utkal University by sending the names of 68 para teachers. The examination controller of Utkal University said apart from one para teacher Parikshit Mahto the rest 67 candidates were not found enrolled with the university.
Sahi served show-cause notices to the para teachers in January 2013 asking them to explain why they submitted fake certificates. However, after the forgery came to light four para teachers resigned while over a dozen went absconding. "Some of them replied stating that they had submitted genuine certificates. Most did not bother to give any explanation," said Sahi.
He also said, "After not receiving satisfactory reply from the para teachers, I submitted a proposal to the DC to begin the process of termination by lodging FIRs and also asked him to recover the amount paid to the para teachers as salary. He agreed to do the same."
Sources said there is a gang active in the district which charge between Rs 20, 000 and Rs 35,000 from the candidates for providing B Ed certificates.