In a significant development in Hisar, two legal professionals have formally approached the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) with a serious complaint alleging financial irregularities involving a senior education official. The advocates, Dr Ramesh Punia and Mukesh Saini, have specifically sought the registration of a First Information Report (FIR) against Santosh Kumari, who serves as the Director of the Campus School at Haryana Agricultural University (HAU).
Allegations of Irregular HRA Withdrawals
The core allegation centers around the irregular withdrawal of House Rent Allowance (HRA) by Santosh Kumari while she was reportedly residing in government-provided accommodation. According to the complaint, this pattern of behavior has been occurring since 2019 across various postings held by the official.
Specific Financial Recoveries Cited
The advocates have presented detailed financial evidence in their complaint, stating that following departmental scrutiny, recoveries totaling significant amounts were made from Santosh Kumari. These include one recovery of Rs 2.39 lakh and another of Rs 34,856, which reportedly includes accrued interest on the irregular payments.
Violation of Service Rules Alleged
Referring to documentation from the Block Education Officer, Hisar-I, the complainants have highlighted a specific instance from 2022. During this period, while posted as principal at Government Senior Secondary School in Mangali, Santosh Kumari was allegedly allotted government accommodation but continued to receive HRA payments. This practice is claimed to be in direct violation of established service rules governing government employees.
Pattern of Systematic Irregularities
The complaint goes beyond individual instances to allege a broader pattern of irregularities. The advocates have cited similar cases at educational institutions in Mangali, Rawalwas Kalan in Hisar district, and Kharwan in Yamunanagar district. These additional cases were reportedly confirmed through Right to Information (RTI) replies, suggesting what the complainants describe as repeated and systematic financial irregularities.
Legal and Disciplinary Implications
The complaint maintains that drawing HRA while occupying government accommodation constitutes more than just an administrative error. The advocates argue this amounts to misuse and embezzlement of public funds, representing fraudulent conduct involving deliberate concealment of facts. They further assert that merely depositing recovered amounts does not absolve the beneficiary of potential criminal liability.
Allegations of Influence and Diluted Action
A particularly serious allegation in the complaint suggests that action in this matter was diluted due to external influence. The advocates claim that proper disciplinary measures were not implemented as they should have been, raising questions about accountability and enforcement mechanisms within the system.
Broader Implications for Governance
The complainants have framed their allegations within the context of broader governance principles. They argue that failure to take stringent action in such cases would have multiple negative consequences. These include demoralizing honest employees, adversely affecting students and staff within educational institutions, and undermining the Haryana government's stated zero-tolerance policy towards corruption.
Referring to relevant Finance Department circulars, the complaint asserts that such violations constitute punishable offences warranting both strict disciplinary action and criminal proceedings. The case now awaits consideration by the Anti-Corruption Bureau, which will determine whether to proceed with the registration of an FIR based on the evidence and allegations presented.
