Cuttack, July 17: File an affidavit providing substantive information on the extent of misappropriation of mid-day meal scheme funds by using names of non-existent students, the Orissa High Court asked the director of Elementary Education on Tuesday.
The division bench of Chief Justice Chakradhari Sharan Singh and Justice Savitri Ratho was hearing a PIL registered based on a letter petition received from one Sanjaya Kumar Maharana of Patia area in Bhubaneswar in 2018.
The division bench issued the direction after taking note of an affidavit placed before it earlier by the director that stated 474 teachers were found to have submitted fake educational certificates at the time of joining and 300 teachers have been dismissed from service by May 14, 2024 after scrutiny. However, the affidavit had apprised the High Court that no fake enrolment of students were found in any school of the state for mid-day meal.
The court was dissatisfied with the reply regarding mid-day meal funds misappropriation and expected a proper affidavit on the issue before the matter is taken up after four weeks for further consideration.
The petitioner had alleged that the teachers with fake certificates procured from Andhra Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir and Rajasthan were working both in elementary and secondary-level schools.
