Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Jan 1: Vigilance Organization has registered two FIRs against Chief Education Officers of Jammu and Doda and others for purchasing fire extinguishers at highly exorbitant rates.
A spokesman of the Vigilance Organization said that a purchase committee headed by Chief Education Officer, Jammu, Natha Ram Dhingra purchased 1481 fire extinguishers at the highly exorbitant rates of Rs 2385 (including 12.5 % VAT) amounting Rs 35,32,185 under a conspired plan with the accused supplier.
During the verification, it came to fore that the market price of each fire extinguisher of 5 kilogram capacity was Rs 1380 excluding VAT of 12.5% and in this way the Purchase Committee caused a loss to the State exchequer to the tune of Rs 10,95, 950.
The other accused are Puran Singh, the then ZEO Arnia, Nasreen Kousar, the then ZEO Satwari, Vishwa Nath, the then ZEO Marh and Proprietor of M/s Fire Escorts Services, Gandhi Nagar.
The fire extinguishers were purchased for installation in all the Government and private schools in compliance to the directions passed by the Supreme Court.
Similarly, the then Chief Education Officer Doda, Yogeshwar Raj Thusoo, Hafiz-ullah Salarai, District Education Planning Officer Doda, Nek Ram, Principal Government Higher Secondary School Ghat and other officers/officials of Education Department, Doda and M/s Fire Escorts Services Gandhi Nagar Jammu, Shasta Tabasum, the then ZEO Doda & New Diamond Enterprises Banihal purchased 500 fire extinguishers at highly exorbitant rates of Rs 2385 including VAT amounting Rs 11,92,500 and caused loss to the State exchequer to the tune of Rs 3, 70, 000.
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