Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar, Oct 26: Frustrated by the fraud committed by the Education Department, a Contingent Paid Worker (CPW) of a school in central Kashmir’s Budgam district forcefully closed a school for three days to ‘press’ for regularization of his services.
The middle school in question is located in Gamgulla village and falls under the jurisdiction of Zonal Education Officer (ZEO) Hardpanzoo in Budgam. The CPW, Bashir Ahmad Shergujri, has been working as sweeper in the school for last 20 years.
A Senior Assistant of the ZEO office, Showkat Ahmad Bhat, had fraudulently kept name of his wife, Noushada, in CPW’s place for the post of sweeper in the records. But after a complaint few years ago, an enquiry established that her name was fraudulently kept in place of Bashir in the records.
Recently the Education Department has sought objections from the people for regularizing services of Noushada. However, Bashir is serving the school from last 20 years and his name is not figuring in the list of workers who are to be regularized.
Bashir approached ZEO but was shown cold shoulder. As there was no option left for him he first threatened suicide and finally locked the school.
The department has initiated action against the Contingent Paid Worker (CPW) for closing the school illegally. “I was informed few hours ago about this incident and I have asked the ZEO to lodge FIR against the person for closing the school illegally in local police station,” said a senior officer.
An inquiry will be initiated against the concerned headmaster for showing his “callous approach” in running the school and not informing his higher-ups about the matter.
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