Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Aug 18: The Directorate of School Education Kashmir (DSEK) has nullified the appointments of two teachers, who allegedly entered the School Education Department through fraudulent means.
The action against Farooq Ahmad Bhat and Shabir Ahmad Bhat, both residents of Kharbrari, Kulgam, was taken after an investigation by the Crime Branch Kashmir revealed that the duo had secured their positions through unfair means.
A case in this regard, registered under FIR number 13/2021, involved charges of cheating, forgery, and criminal conspiracy under sections 420, 468, 471, 120-B of the Ranbir Penal Code, along with provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act.
The investigation conducted by the Economic Offences Wing, formerly Crime Branch Kashmir, found that the accused had fabricated service books, appointment orders, and other official documents to gain employment as teachers.
The Directorate of School Education also initiated a detailed inquiry after both teachers failed to produce original appointment orders when asked by their respective Chief Education Officers (CEOs).
While Farooq Ahmad Bhat claimed his documents were lost in the 2014 floods Shabir Ahmad Bhat stated that his documents were with the Crime Branch.
However, the inquiry committee found that their initial appointment orders were never issued by the DSEK.
Further investigation by the Zonal Education Officer (ZEO) Devsar, Kulgam, confirmed that neither of the accused had been employed in the zone during the years they claimed to have served.
The inquiry committee, therefore, concluded that the appointments were fraudulent and recommended that they be declared void ab initio.
In line with legal precedents set by the Supreme Court and reiterated by the High Court of J&K and Ladakh, the DSEK accordingly determined that no further inquiry was necessary.
As such, the fraudulent appointments of Farooq Ahmad Bhat and Shabir Ahmad Bhat were officially nullified by the Directorate of School Education Kashmir, and orders were issued to recover any salary and benefits they had received during their unlawful tenure.
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