Vishav Bharti
Chandigarh, March 8
A recruitment scam has come to the fore in the Rural Development and Panchayats Department of Punjab in which about 100 employees were recruited on the basis of fake degree and experience certificates, degrees from unrecognized universities and fake reservation under Punjab State Rural Livelihoods Mission (PSRLM). is included. The matter came to light during the investigation being done by the department.
In the last three years, the state had hired 311 employees in various positions including District Program Manager, Block Program Manager, Cluster Coordinator etc. under PSRLM – a poverty alleviation project implemented by the Ministry of Rural Development, Government of India. To focus on promotion of self-employment and organization of rural poor.
Sources said that several complaints were received regarding recruitment on the basis of fake degrees and reservation certificates. Following the complaints, the department constituted a four-member panel to verify the basic qualifications of the employees recruited under the scheme across the state.
The sources revealed the probe panel had so far scrutinised data of 225 employees from 18 districts, including Amritsar, Barnala, Bathinda, Faridkot, Fatehgarh Sahib, Fazilka, Ferozepur, Gurdaspur, Jalandhar, Kapurthala, Ludhiana, Malerkotla, Moga, Sangrur, Pathankot, SAS Nagar, SBS Nagar and Muktsar.
It is found that more than 100 employees were not qualified for the post for which they were recruited. The data of about 90 employees from five districts is yet to be analysed.
Sources revealed that the degrees of about 50 employees were fake or were from unrecognized universities. Seven candidates were seen holding degrees from two universities – one from Uttar Pradesh and one from Sikkim, which have been derecognised by the University Grants Commission (UGC). The original degrees of 47 candidates were not found in the official records. Apart from this, eight employees are accused of using fake SC certificates.
In some districts, the process of recruitment examination followed by the department is under question. At some places, interviews of candidates were conducted, which were against the government recruitment rules framed in 2016, for such posts.
Rahul Bhandari, Principal Secretary, Rural Department and Panchayat Department, said that this is a serious matter and a detailed investigation is being done. “Those using fake certificates will not be spared,” he said.
225 tests so far
- In the last three years, 311 appointments have been made under PSRLM for the posts of District Program Manager, Block Program Manager, Cluster Coordinator etc.
- Following the complaints, the department’s 4-member inquiry panel scrutinized the data of 225 employees from 18 districts; The data of the remaining employees is being assessed
discrepancies
- 50 degrees from fake or unrecognized universities
- 47 degree not found in official record
- 8 accused of using fake SC certificate
- Degree from two universities near 7
serious matter
This is a serious matter and a detailed investigation is being done. Those using fake certificates will not be spared. -Rahul Bhandari, PUPrincipal Secretary, Rural Development and Panchayat Department