Six government officials and 16 selected candidates named in a nearly 1,000-page chargesheet
Raipur, October 26. The Chhattisgarh Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) has filed a chargesheet against 22 accused in a case involving alleged irregularities in the recruitment of 320 Class III teachers in Pandariya block of the then Kawardha district in 1998. The accused include six government officials and 16 selected candidates.
The ACB submitted the nearly 1,000-page chargesheet before the Special Court under the Prevention of Corruption Act in Kawardha. The case involves allegations of manipulation of interview marks, irregular award of bonus marks for teaching experience, violation of reservation rules and favouritism towards relatives of selection committee members.
Complaint Filed in December 1998
According to the ACB press release, the investigation began following a complaint received on December 25, 1998, from Arjun Tiwari, the then president of Pandariya Janpad Panchayat. The complaint alleged widespread corruption and violations of recruitment rules during the selection process.
The investigation found that the prescribed procedure under the Madhya Pradesh Panchayat Shikshak (Recruitment and Service Conditions) Rules, 1997, was allegedly not followed.
Bonus marks for teaching experience were added to the marks obtained in the eligibility examination while preparing category-wise merit lists for interviews. This allegedly altered candidates’ rankings, resulting in eligible candidates being excluded while some candidates who did not meet the prescribed merit criteria were called for interviews.
Reservation Rules and Selection Procedures Allegedly Violated
The investigation also revealed alleged irregularities in category-wise selection, candidate adjustment and horizontal reservation for women. Questions were also raised over the selection of candidates under the disability quota.
According to the ACB, the prescribed procedures for preparing merit lists and allocating vacancies were allegedly not followed, raising concerns about the fairness and transparency of the recruitment process.
Selection Committee Members Accused of Favouring Relatives
The investigation further found that some selection committee members allegedly participated in interviews involving their close relatives and awarded them marks without disclosing their relationships in advance.
According to the ACB, the selection of relatives of then education standing committee chairman Shankarlal Chandravanshi and committee members Brijbihari Vaishnav and Ambikadatt Sharma also came under scrutiny.
Questions Raised Over Teaching Experience Certificates
Investigators also examined teaching experience certificates submitted by some candidates. Records reportedly indicated that certain candidates had claimed teaching experience for periods during which they were enrolled as regular college students and receiving scholarships.
Despite objections to their eligibility, these candidates were allegedly awarded bonus marks for teaching experience, potentially affecting the merit-based selection process.
Charges Include Criminal Conspiracy, Cheating and Forgery
The ACB stated that the oral, documentary and other evidence collected during the investigation indicated alleged collusion between public servants and beneficiary candidates to manipulate the recruitment process.
Based on the evidence, the agency filed the chargesheet under relevant provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, and the Indian Penal Code (IPC). The charges include provisions relating to criminal conspiracy, cheating and forgery.
Former Officials and 16 Selected Candidates Named
Those named in the chargesheet include former Pandariya Janpad Panchayat chief executive officer M.L. Bharti, then block education officer N.L. Vastrakar, former deputy director of public instruction in Kawardha N.R. Verma, then education standing committee chairman Shankarlal Chandravanshi, former committee member Hariram Ghritlahre, and 16 selected candidates.
According to the ACB press release, three of the accused public servants have died. The chargesheet also records the deaths of former chief executive officer M.L. Barai and former committee members Brijbihari Vaishnav and Ambikadatt Sharma.
The case concerns recruitment to 320 teaching posts in 1998 and allegations of violations of recruitment and reservation procedures. With the chargesheet now filed, further legal proceedings will take place before the court.
