Fake Shalarth ID scam: Education Department stops pay, cancels approvals of suspect teachers

The Education Department has begun administrative action in the fake Shalarth ID scam that has caused a stir across the state. Salaries of suspect teachers are being withheld, their individual approvals are being cancelled, and a probe into appointments made against the rules has also started. It is believed the action could speed up proceedings against those who drew government salaries through bogus appointments.

A Special Investigation Team (SIT) is conducting the probe under the guidance of Nashik Police Commissioner Sandeep Karnik. The team is going through various documents and examining the suspect appointments.

According to information available, in the first phase 150 teachers in the Nashik division have had their approvals cancelled and their salaries stopped. In all, 893 suspect cases across the division are under scrutiny. In Jalgaon district, orders are also said to have been issued to cancel the approvals of 132 people and withhold their pay.

The action is being felt in Beed and Latur too. In Nagpur, questions have arisen over the salaries and appointments of 632 employees.

The action has revived the issue of transparency in teacher recruitment, individual approvals and the disbursal of salaries. If forged documents or approvals contrary to the rules are proved, criminal action could follow against the teachers as well as the heads of the institutions concerned and the officials responsible.

All eyes are now on what the scrutiny of the 893 Nashik cases turns up and what further steps the Education Department takes. There is considerable interest in the district's education sector over the matter.

The Shalarth ID scam is the name given to the alleged irregularities in Shalarth system IDs and in the appointment or salary records of teachers linked to them. Where suspect appointments or records are being examined, the validity of the teachers' appointments can be questioned. However, each teacher's case has to be examined separately. A decision on salary can be taken on the basis of the inquiry, the evidence available and the rules in force, so the official order should be checked for the actual action taken.