June 7th 2024.
It has been six long years since a Public Interest Litigation was filed in Orissa High Court, urging the government to take action against the 'fake' teachers in the state. However, the progress made by the state government in this matter has been quite underwhelming. In fact, the high court had to issue a show-cause notice to the Directorate of Elementary Education due to the extensive delay in addressing the issue. In response, the director of DEE has instructed all District Education Officers to identify and report any fake teachers in their respective districts by June 15. They have also been asked to provide details on the criminal and departmental actions taken against these individuals.
According to reports, there are hundreds of fake teachers working in various schools across Korei and other blocks in Jajpur district, based on false caste and educational certificates. Despite the Education Department issuing orders for their removal multiple times, the district-level education officials are allegedly protecting these fake teachers. The director of DEE has even ordered for their dismissal and for police cases to be filed against them under Section-15 of Odisha Civil Services rules-1962. However, these orders are being disregarded by the district education officials.
Efforts to take action against these dishonest officials have been in vain. A PIL was filed in the Orissa High Court by Sanjay Kumar Moharana, urging for action to be taken against fake teachers in the state. As per the court's order, the Education department attempted to conduct a probe and found a list of 394 fake teachers. Surprisingly, there was only one fake teacher found in Jajpur district, but it is believed that there are over 200 others still working. There have been reports of a fake teacher working under Vyasanagar tehsil, which is a prime example of this issue.
One individual, who had acquired a land patta from Ghasipura tehsil in Keonjhar district, obtained a fake tribal caste certificate and managed to secure a job as a teacher under Vyasanagar tehsil. Similarly, three people were caught working as teachers in Barchana block with fake OTET certificates. The education department in Jajpur has taken action by suspending these individuals. In addition, three siblings who were working as fake teachers in Korei block have also been suspended. However, despite the presence of hundreds of fake teachers in the district, the education department has yet to initiate any criminal or departmental proceedings against them.
In another shocking case, a person from Asanjhar village in Korei block had been working as a teacher for several years using a fake ST certificate. He was even promoted to the position of Block Education Officer and enjoyed all the benefits of a government servant. However, after complaints were filed against him, he was transferred to Kendrapara district. It is believed that he is now working as a BEO there and is providing cover for other fake teachers. It is worth noting that the Revenue Divisional Commissioner in Cuttack had ordered for a probe on August 8, 2022, but the Vyasanagar tehsildar at the time filed a report in favor of these fake teachers without even conducting a field visit.
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