As ZEO office have admitted in writing after issuing the receipts which JK Monitor is already made public, that they had collected Rs 150 per students as examination fees from all the schools of the Education Zone Thathri, they have started preparing the papers mentioning that they had collected Rs 150 as fees and Rs 40 is being refunded to the teachers while actual amount they collected from students was Rs 180 and they are refunding the same but on papers they are now trying to justify their stand at Rs 150 only.
The papers being prepared by the ZEO office Thathri in itself is sufficient before the Inquiry Committee to prepare fact finding report naming the culprits as the actual fees decided by the SEI is Rs 110 and in the regard direction were issued on time to the all concerned DIET’s and Zones and head of the middle standard institutions which was authenticated during the investigations by the JK Monitor and as a proof a copy of CURRICULAR issued by the DIET Doda was already made public by the JK Monitor.
During the in-depth investigations by the JK Monitor, it has been established that the exam fees over charging was not confined to Thathri Zone only, but in every education zone of Doda district, overcharging was done, on the instruction of Middle Standard Examination Wing of CEO office Doda.
The intentions of the MS Cell of CEO Office Doda was clear to swindle Rs 3, 15, 320 at Rs 40 extra from each student and the total number of students registered as confirmed to JK Monitor by the Principal DIE Doda are 7883- (except Bhatyas Zone). When we multiply 7883 with 40 the total becomes, Rs 3, 15,320.
During the investigations it was established that when the office of the Zonal Education Officer Thathri was exposed by the JK Monitor, they contacted other Zones to verify the fees they have charged and after confirming from the different Education Zones of the district, that they have charged Rs 150, Thathri Zone too adopted the same path and started issuing receipts to the teachers that they have collected Rs 150 which later was reduced to actual fees.
This was officially confirmed by the CEO Doda while talking to JK Monitor three days back. He has said that there was verbal direction by the DIET Doda and all the Education Zones of Doda have collected Rs 150 per students. However, the claim was refuted by the Principal DIET Doda said that proper circular was issued to all concerned in this regard and on investigations, JK Monitor, established that DIET Doda had issued a CURRICULAR No--/DIET/MSE/1035-136 of 06-09-2013 to Director School Education Jammu, SIE Jammu, and all ZEOs/HMs/Principal.
JK MONITOR during investigation established that it was Middle Standard Examination Cell of Chief Education Office (CEO) Doda, from where verbal directions were issued to ZEOs and other in-charges to examination fees at the rate of Rs 150 per student ignoring the circular of DIET Doda.
When contacted, it was confirmed form all the 10 Education Zones of Doda district that on the verbal directions from Middle Standard Cell of CEO office Doda, examination was overcharged from the students across the district.
However, after the JK Monitor exposes the overcharging scam in Thathri Zone, the district level authorities activated and directed all the zones to refund the overcharged fees to students. Chief Education Officer has issued strict instructions to the ZEOs to monitor and ensure that the extra charged money reaches back to the right parents and student after charging Rs 110 as the examination fees.
JK Monitor confirmed from ZEO offices of all 10 zones of Doda and here is what they say
ZEO Gundna Amar Chand told JK Monitor that it was informed from the Middle Standard Cell of CEO Office Doda to charge the same fees as was charged last year, and our school have charged Rs 150 from students but now CEO Doda has instructed to refund the overcharged money and we are in a process of refunding the money to students.
Dealing Assistant ZEO office Ghat, Mr Saleem told JK Monitor that said that the verbal directions were issued from Middle Standard Cell of CEO Office Doda to charge Rs 150 per student and our office asked the teachers to deposit the fee in MS Examination Cell in CEO directly.
ZEO Bhagwa, Mr Natnoo told JK Monitor that it was instructed by the MS Examination Cell of CEO office to collect examination fees at Rs 150 per student, and the teachers of different schools have directly deposited the fees in MS Examination Cell in CEO office Doda, however, ZEO office Gundna verified particulars and made attestation.
ZEO Assar told JK Monitor that it was instructed by MS Examination Cell in CEO to collect examination fees at Rs 150 per student.
Dealing Assistant ZEO Office Doda, Mr Arshad told JK Monitor that it was instructed by MS Examination Cell in CEO to collect the fee at Rs 150 per student.
Dealing Assistant Bhalla Mr Naseer told JK Monitor that on 8th September MS Examination Cell in CEO Doda, gave verbal instructions about charging Rs 150 per candidate. Relevant to mention here that DIET Doda has issued circular on 6th of September.
Dealing Assistant ZEO Office Bhaalla Mr Naseer, Dealing Assistant ZEO Office Bhalessa Mr Sadiq also confirmed to JK Monitor MS Examination Cell in CEO Doda had issued the verbal instructions to charge Rs 150 per candidate as examination fees of middle standard.
Talking to JK Monitor ZEO Bhaderwah Ram Prasad also confirmed that it was MS Examination Cell in CEO office Doda, who communicated to charge the examination fees of class 8th at Rs 150 per student but now on the instructions of CEO Doda, the extra charged money is being refunded to students and their parents against a proper receipt.
Now the JK Monitor investigation revealed that with malicious intentions, the MS Exam Cell in CEO office Doda not only avoided SIE, DIET directions; but also exploited the teachers students, parents and damaged the images Education Department in a bid to swindle about 3 lakh money from students and their parents.
After this exposure, now the public of which majority is from villages have become aware enough about the deeds such employees do to accumulate wealth through unfair means, now it is up to authorities whether they want to shelter such elements or punish. What image they want to present before the public in their own hands at own will.