A PIL has been filed in Madras High Court for a direction to the School Education Department to initiate disciplinary proceedings against headmasters of 77 government schools in Namakkal district for allegedly swindling Rs 81 lakh scholarship money meant for labourers' children.
A bench comprising acting Chief Justice S K Agnihotri and Justice M M Sundresh, before which the PIL from Gandhian R Kannan Govindarajan of Kilmaruvathur village in Kanchipuram district came up for hearing today, ordered notice returnable by July 9.
The petitioner contended that the Namakkal District Educational Officer had suspended the 77 HMs of Adi Dravidar welfare schools on August 1, 2012 for 'embezzling' Rs 81 lakh meant for scholarship to labourers' children for 2011-12. But all were reinstated in service by the DEO on Feb 11, 2013.
No enquiry was conducted or criminal proceedings initiated against the HMs so far even after expiry of 21 months. They should be tried and punished, the petitioner contended and prayed for a direction from the court to the Education Department to initiate action against the HMs.
