Shocking it may sound, but Social Welfare Depatment honchos appointed a person in Rajkiya Govind Ballabh Pant Polytechnic throwing to winds the set norms and even an Apex Court direction, and went a step further annointing him as the Chairman of the institute’s five-member Examination Board.
These facts surfaced during a probe into complaint filed with the lokayukta. Principal Secretary (Social Welfare), Sunil Kumar, now claimed to have sought explanation from the concerned Special Secretary.
On being contacted on Wednesday afternoon, lokayukta Justice (Retd) NK Mehrotra confirmed of initiating the enquiry into the matter and assured to take legal action against the incumbent and the patronising officers. once the reports came in.
Earlier, a social activist filed an application with lokayukta alleging that Principal Secretary (Social Welfare) Sunil Kumar, had helped ad hoc staff Pawan Mishra not just by confirming his service at Rajkiya Govind Ballabh Pant Polytechnic at Mohan Road but also promoted and posted him as Office Superintendent.
She also claimed that the High Court and the Supreme Court had ordered that services of Mishra could not be confirmed. However, officials of the Social Welfare Department and the top official ignored this and not only regularised his services but also promotied Mishra. Soon after, the lokayukta issued notice to Sunil Kumar and sought explanation.
Sources confirmed that Sunil Kumar initially confirmed that the regularisation of Pawan Mishra was made after taking the opinion of law Department. However, he said that regularisation file of Mishra was also moved in the department in July 2013 but the then Principal Secretary (Social Welfare) had noted that he could not be confirmed.
When Mishra’s file was moved a second time and legal opinion was sought, he submitted an experience certificate of Awadh Industries so that there were no objections made. During probe, this certificate was found to be fake and a case was registered in this regard.
The social activist, who confirmed of registering of FIR against Mishra, claimed that she also wrote to Chief Secretary requesting legal action against the employee. The file was sent to Sunil Kumar for action but he forwarded it to Special Secretary, Kedarnath. After the matter was once again brought to his knowledge through lokayukta, Sunil Kumar served a notice to Kedarnath seeking his reply.
Justice Mehrotra said that he sought details of noting made in the matter by law Department from Sunil Kumar and asked him to reply as to how when Pawan Mishra’s services could not be confirmed, he was made Chairman of the Examination Committee of the Polytechnic.