Kohima, July 24 (MExN): Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio today disclosed on the floor of the House that investigations into the scam within the School Education Department involving the bogus appointment of Teachers were reaching a conclusion. Replying to a supplementary question raised by Opposition Leader Tokheho Yepthomi during question hour today, the Chief Minister said finding the interim report unsatisfactory, the vigilance department has set up another committee to investigate and categorize the teachers following which the Cabinet decided to withhold the salaries of teachers under Bogus and Absentee teachers. The salaries of teachers under the categories have been stopped and they have been asked to reply and if they fail to do so, their services will be terminated, he said.
Earlier, replying to a starred question raised by Tokheho demanding to know the number of appointment orders made against the sanctioned regular vacancies and the number of appointments made without sanctioned posts or regular vacancies, School Education Minister, Nyeiwang Konyak said the matter is still under examination following the detection of many bogus teachers appointed with forged signature of appointing authority. Also, asked as to how many DIS had drawn salaries against absentee teachers and transferred teachers, he said the Department has served Show Cause Notices to the bogus and absentee teachers as to why their services should not be terminated.
Only after the completion of the above initiative, the department will be able to ascertain the amount of such drawals by the respective DIS, DEOS, he said. He also insisted that the Directorate of School Education has not issued any direct appointment order without prior approval of Government Department when asked to furnish true copies of appointment orders of teachers issued directly by the Director of School Education and those issued with the approval of the Government.
