NSMA demands arrest of ministers, APCC president

Teacher appointment scam

BY OUR STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI, Jan 21: Raking up a two decade old teachers’ appointment scam that took place in Bongaigaon district, the garik Suraksha Mancha Assam has sought immediate arrest of then education minister Sarat Barkataky, then MLA of South Abhayapuri Chandan Sarkar and then chairman of selection committee of Bongaigaon subdivision Anjan Dutta.

The scam took place during the time of Hiteswar Saikia led Congress government from 1991-96. Present education minister Barkataky was the education minister at that time too, whereas present APCC president Anjan Dutta was the chairman of selection committee for Bongaigaon subdivision. Minister Chandan Sarkar was then an influential congress legislator.

Total 649 teachers were appointed during that time of which most of them were illegal.

It may be mentioned that after the AGP came to power in 1996, the government immediately set up a one man commission led by S Manoharan. In its report, the commission observed that out of 649 appointments, 165 were irregular and 378 appointments were illegal. The commission asked the government to regularize the posts of 165 irregular teachers. However, the government didn’t implement the recommendations of the commission.

However, after the Tarun Gogoi led Congress government came to power in 2001 the government regularized the jobs of 125 teachers.

Meanwhile, holding Sarat Barkataky, Chandan Sarkar and Anjan Dutta responsible for the scam, president of garik Suraksha Mancha Assam, Bhadreswar Barman has sought their arrest. “The government had then appointed 649 teachers, only 125 posts have been regularized so far, on the other hand, many of them have already died and others who are still alive are living a life in dilemma. Who will take the responsibility? Those were responsible for the illegal appointments should be booked and put behind the bars,” Barman said.