Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar, Dec 13: In a significant development, the High Court today directed for sealing of those Elementary Teachers Training (ETT) colleges which have been found operating illegally and Divisional Commissioner Jammu has been directed to comply with the directions.
The Division Bench of Justice Mohammad Yaqoob Mir and Justice Ali Mohammad Magrey while hearing PIL on irregularities and embezzlement by the ETT colleges in the State directed the ETT colleges functioning in Jammu division illegally be sealed.
Court in this connection directed Divisional Commissioner Jammu to ensure this direction is complied with and report in this regard to the court on next date. “Till the appropriate action is taken by the Secretary School Education Jammu, we direct that these institutes for the time being shall be sealed. The in-charge and the owners of such institutes be put on notice for filing objections, if any, by or before next date”, read the order.
Meanwhile, Inspector General of Police Crime Branch Jammu in tune with Court directions submitted his status report with regard to investigation of FIR on the issue. The report of IGP CB Jammu revealed that the authorities by abusing their official position have granted NOC in favour of Ambica ETT and RI Kunjwani of Jammu.
It also submitted that authorities allowed the promoters of these ETTs to run these institutions in deviation of the guidelines of National Council for Teachers Education and J&K Education Act 2002 .
“The promoters of the said institute in league with BOSE authorities established ETT institute and admitted 17 students after depositing affiliation fee with J&K BOSE, Jammu without removing the deficiencies pin pointed by the inspection team”, report of IGP said.
It has also been added that in pursuance to the directions of the court a list of ETT institutes which were found running illegally and the promoters of these institutions has been submitted to the Secretary School Education department on November 29 for further appropriate action.
When Court asked the State Counsel as to what action has been taken by the Secretary to these ETT institutions, he submitted before the Court that he has received the report only three days back.
With regard to amendment in J&K School Education Rules 2010, earlier four weeks were granted to Government and the time has not been availed. However, State counsel submitted that to his information various steps have been taken but some more time is required and assured that by next date he will file compliance. At his personal request Court granted him further four weeks time.
Crime Branch Jammu has already filed the charge-sheets for the sessions 2003-20005, 2004-20006, 2005-20007 & 2006-2008 in FIR 36/2013 u/s 420(cheating) 468 (forgery for the purpose of cheating), 471(using a forged document), 120-B (criminal conspiracy) RPC read with section 5(2) of Prevention of Corruption Act 2006 before the Special Judge of Anti-corruption Jammu under four challans.
The investigation in respect of session 2007-2009 has been finalized by CB and charge sheet has been produced before the said court on December 13 last year against 7 promoters of ETT institutes against the then Director Academics BOSE Jammu Sheikh Bashir Ahmad.
Crime Branch Jammu has further scrutinized the examination records pertaining to session 2008-2010 which revealed that two batches of ETT courses in 2008-2010 (General) & 2008-2010 (court cases) were started by the BOSE authorities and out of 60 ETT institutes established by the promoters in the said sessions. “Records in respect of 48 ETT institutes have been scrutinized and examination of records in respect of remaining 12 ETTs is going on. After completion of examination of the records of aforesaid institutes, investigation of session 2008-2010 will be concluded”, IGP’s report read.
It may be mentioned here that the investigation is being carried out in the scam by Crime Branch Kashmir and Crime Branch Jammu in connection with two FIRs registered one at CB Jammu and one at CB Kashmir and Court is monitoring the investigation in which till date various revelations have come before the Court about the bungling and irregularities in ETT Colleges throughout the State.
In one of the reports, it is alleged that the candidates were lured and amounts, ranging from Rs 45,000 to Rs 80,000 were extracted from each one of them through touts for providing them degrees and certificates by these ETT colleges.
Enquiry report further alleged that these institutions were allowed and permitted to run the courses without issuance of NOC from the State Government, which is granted after inspection.
Another report filed before the Court also revealed that a mafia in league with BOSE authorities is involved in this huge scandal and almost 480 colleges are operating in the entire State out of which 80 are in Kashmir Division and 320 colleges are in Jammu Division and two FIR have been registered with regard to ETT scam as one in Kashmir and another in Jammu Division.
In one of the communication sent by Chairman BOSE to IGP Crime because of the enquiry report of Joint Secretary BOSE and offence U/S 120-B (Criminal Conspiracy) has been added to the FIRs, which would mean that a conspiracy was allegedly hatched by the BOSE authorities with the owners of ETT institutes resulting into registering of FIR at Crime Branch Srinagar as well as Crime Branch Jammu.
Subsequently various college owners and some board officials have been held guilty during the investigation conducted by Crime Branch and action as per law has been initiated against them and outcome of action taken is being submitted to the court from time to time.
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