JBT scam: Such scams shake public confidence, says Delhi HC

Condemning the junior basic teachers recruitment scam, the Delhi High Court today observed that such scams not only result in dissemination of poor quality education to children, but shake public confidence.
"Such scams not only result in dissemination of poor quality education to the millions of children, who are bound to suffer, but also unfairly deprive competent participants in such selection processes an opportunity to gain public employment and meaningfully serve the country.
"Public confidence is bound to get shaken, resulting in frustration/anxiety amongst the youth who eagerly await the scarce employment opportunities, giving further impetus to the culture of corruption," Justice Siddharth Mridul observed in the 400-page judgement in which he upheld the conviction and jail terms of former Haryana Chief Minister O P Chautala, his son Ajay and 53 others.

The court also said the process of appointing competent teachers was also "vilified" and not spared from the malaise of corruption.
"Education is a tool, which can be skilfully used by competent teachers to model the youth (our most precious human resource) in their formative years, to enable them to become productive citizens in future and herald India to epitome of success.
"Yet the instant case demonstrates how the process of appointing competent teachers was also vilified and not spared from the malaise of corruption," it said.