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SIT to probe ‘irregularities' in school edu dept recruitments

SIT to probe ‘irregularities' in school edu dept recruitments

Indian Express4 hours ago
The Maharashtra government on Tuesday announced the formation of a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to inquire into alleged irregularities in recruitment within the state's school education department.
School Education Minister Dada Bhuse informed the Assembly that the SIT will include senior IAS and IPS officers with legal expertise, alongside domain specialists. The team has been granted of four to five months to complete the probe.
'Strict action will be taken against those who have maligned the education sector,' Bhuse said.
The issue was raised in the Lower House through a calling attention motion by Sena UBT's Ajay Chaudhari and others.
According to the motion, over 1,000 appointments were made in Nagpur and other districts in recent years, of which at least 580 teaching and non-teaching staff were found ineligible.
Chaudhari claimed that in Nagpur division alone, government funds amounting to Rs 100 crore were spent on salaries of ineligible appointees.
Since 2012, he alleged, ineligible individuals have continued to draw salaries across several districts.
Following these allegations, criminal cases were filed against 12 office-bearers of various educational institutions. Departmental inquiries against education officials have also been initiated.
Bhuse said the SIT would identify those responsible and ensure accountability.
Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Tuesday announced a separate SIT, to be headed by a senior woman officer, to investigate allegations of sexual harassment of a minor girl at a coaching centre in Beed.
The matter was raised by NCP's Chetan Tupe through a point of information in the Assembly.
Tupe questioned why the two accused arrested in the case were granted only three days of police custody. 'Who is protecting the accused?' he asked.
Fadnavis responded that anyone attempting to shield the accused would also face consequences.
'The SIT will investigate the case in a time-bound manner, and the guilty will not be spared,' he said.
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