The Uttarakhand High Court has taken a stern step to investigate alleged large-scale fraud in the state's education department. On Wednesday, the court directed the formation of a special medical committee to probe claims that numerous employees illegally availed job reservation benefits by submitting fake or invalid disability certificates.
AIIMS Neurologist to Lead High-Powered Probe
The court has mandated that the investigative committee be headed by a senior neurologist from the prestigious All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Rishikesh. This committee has been given a clear deadline: it must examine all allegations thoroughly and submit a comprehensive report to the court by March 15.
The directive came during a hearing of a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by the Uttarakhand unit of the National Federation of the Blind. The PIL specifically sought a detailed inquiry into what appears to be a coordinated scam to exploit benefits meant for genuinely disabled persons.
Court Dissatisfied with Government's Response
During the proceedings, the state's Additional Health Secretary informed the bench that the educational documents of the individuals suspected of being ineligible were currently under verification. However, this response did not satisfy the division bench.
The bench, comprising Chief Justice G Narendar and Justice Subhash Upadhyay, expressed clear dissatisfaction with the pace and depth of the government's internal investigation. The judges emphasized the need for an independent, expert-driven probe to uncover the truth.
Previous Directives and Ongoing Scrutiny
This is not the court's first intervention in this case. In an earlier hearing, the High Court had already ordered the state education department to provide a complete list of all individuals who were appointed under the disability quota. Furthermore, the court had instructed that detailed information, including the specific type of disability and copies of the disability certificates, must be compulsorily attached with an affidavit for each appointee.
The court's active monitoring underscores the seriousness of the allegations. The scam not only deprives genuinely disabled candidates of employment opportunities but also represents a grave misuse of a constitutional safeguard designed for social justice. The formation of the AIIMS-led committee is expected to bring medical rigor and impartiality to the investigation, determining the authenticity of the disability certificates in question.
The outcome of this probe, due next month, could lead to significant administrative actions, including the termination of illegally secured jobs and potential legal consequences for those involved in fabricating documents.
