Vigilance seeks sanction to register cases over alleged school record manipulation in Kannur
Student strength allegedly inflated to retain sanctioned teaching posts; irregularities detected in at least 11 schools; loss to exchequer runs into several crores
The Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau (VACB) in Karnataka has sought government permission to register cases against individuals accused of allegedly manipulating student records in several schools in Kannur district. Deputy Superintendent of Police Babu Peringeth submitted a report to the government detailing irregularities discovered during an investigation spanning nearly eight months.
The probe uncovered inflated student numbers, allegedly to retain teaching positions, alongside false entries in attendance and admission registers, as well as noon meal records. These manipulations likely resulted in financial losses to the government by distributing resources to non-enrolled students. The investigation identified irregularities in at least 11 schools under the jurisdiction of Payyannur, Madayi, Taliparamba North, Taliparamba South, and Irikkur sub-district education offices.
The alleged manipulation extended to some schools in Kannur and Thalassery areas, with students from other schools being recorded as enrolled in the investigation schools. One case involved a student from a Central government school being listed as a student of another school. Similarly, a child studying in Kasaragod district was falsely recorded as enrolled in a Kannur district school.
In one instance, 19 students were found to be listed in a single class's attendance register. At another school, students from a neighboring school were admitted through false entries. While some teachers admitted to resorting to such practices due to pressure, Vigilance officials emphasized that such circumstances would not prevent criminal charges.
The investigation was conducted by three squads under Peringeth's supervision, including Inspectors Sunil Kumar, Binu Mohan, and Sub-Inspectors Nijesh, Radhakrishnan, Praveen, and Rajesh, along with Assistant Sub-Inspectors Jayashree, Rajesh, Sajith, and Rajesh Ezhome. Headteachers and class teachers are expected to be named as accused in the first cases. Several schools, including one near Kannur city, remain under Vigilance surveillance.
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