Day 2: Edu officers' mass leave protest affects administrative work
This, technically, marked the second day of their statewide protest against what they term the "high-handedness" of police in the ongoing probe into the Shalarth ID scam.
The agitation began on Friday, but the intervening weekend holidays meant its impact was only felt in earnest as offices reopened. The association members will meet school education minister Dada Bhuse and the principal secretary in Mumbai on Tuesday.
According to association members, the protest is not against the investigation itself but against the manner in which it is being conducted. Officials allege that the probe is marked by arbitrary questioning, extended hours of interrogation, and sudden arrests, creating an atmosphere of fear within the department.
"Education officers at district, deputy, and block levels are all on leave. This is a collective stand to demand fairness and transparency in the process," said a senior association representative.
The group has sought a written assurance from the state govt that no officer will be harassed or detained without substantial evidence.
On Monday, the absence of these senior officers began affecting routine administrative functions but its strong impact was not yet felt. In some places, including Nagpur, charge is being handled by other officials, hence the impact was not visible so far. However, sources say as the days progress the impact will be visible because the files will start to pile up as the in-charge officials also have to cater to their primary job.
A Special Investigation Team (SIT) formed by Nagpur police is currently probing the scam, which involves alleged misuse and creation of fake Shalarth IDs for financial irregularities. It's the arrests made by this team which riled up education officers. The association claims its members are cooperating fully with the probe and are willing to provide all necessary documents and clarifications. However, they maintain that sudden arrests without "strong reasons" are unacceptable.
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