Two education officers suspended in Punjab for graft

Punjab Technical Education Minister Charanjit Singh Channi on Monday suspended two senior officers of the Technical Education and Industrial Training Board on charges of corruption and fraud.

Those suspended include Registrar Navneet Walia and Secretary Puneet Goyal, a Punjab Civil Service (PCS) officer.

Channi said: "Action against the two officials has been taken on the serious allegations of frauds in revaluation cases and allotment of examination centre to the colleges."

"Cases were noticed in which the students scored very less marks or even zero in the exams, but they were given pass marks in the revaluation by taking money by the Registrar," the Minister said.

He further said that cases have come to notice where these officials allotted examination centres to such colleges which do not even fulfil the minimum required eligibility for running an examination centre.

The Minister said instructions have already been passed to put in place new revaluation policy to ensure complete transparency in the examination system.

"As per the new revaluation policy, if difference of more than 10 marks is found then action would be taken against the examiner," he said. Channi also issued instructions to file a detailed charge-sheet against Navneet Walia and Puneet Goyal for further action.

"Vigilance inquiry and FIR would also be registered against these officials," Channi said, adding that if any official was found indulging in any unlawful activity, he would be dealt severely and strong action would be taken irrespective of his position.

--IANS

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