BUXAR EDUCATION DEPARTMENT IS UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF BROKER

BUXAR EDUCATION DEPARTMENT IS UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF BROKER

17-AUG-ENG 2

RAJIV NAYAN AGRAWAL

BUXAR--------------------------Serious questions are being raised on the working style of the education department of Buxar district and Simri block planning unit. The matter is related to Shobha Kumari, the teacher wife of Ajay Singh, the so-called broker of the education department, whose suspension was revoked by ignoring the rules and the salary was also paid to her the very next day. This swift action was taken at a time when many such teachers in the district have been making rounds of the departmental offices for years for procedures like suspension or retirement benefits. This has been revealed by the complaint filed in the District Public Grievances by Azad Kumar Giri, resident of Haata village of Tilak Rai of Simri block and Harikrishna Yadav, resident of Dera village of Tawakal Rai. Both of them have filed a complaint in the Public Grievances and demanded to lift the suspension of the teacher against the rules and to investigate the salary payment.

To,

District Public Grievance Redressal Officer, Buxar.

Subject:- Regarding information and appropriate action regarding illegal suspension of Mrs. Shobha Kumari by Block Development Officer Simri in connivance with District Education Office.

1- Name- Azad Kumar Giri

Father's name- Late Sachchidanand Giri

Address Village- Tilak Rai Ke Hata, PO- Barka Rajpur

Police Station- Tilak Rai Ke Hata, District- Buxar

State- Bihar, Pin Code- 802113

2- Name- Hare Krishna Yadav

Father's name- Shri Mandir Yadav

Address Village- Tawakal Rai Ke Dera, PO- Chotka Rajpur

Police Station- Tilak Rai Ke Hata, District- Buxar

State- Bihar, Pin Code- 802113

2- Details of complaint

This is related to the department.

BDO, Simri and

District Education Office, Buxar.

I would like to humbly draw your attention to the letter no. 726 dated 30.05.25 of the Block Development Officer-cum- Secretary Block Planning Unit Simri. Through the said letter, the Block Development Officer Simri has sent a notice to Mrs. Shobha Kumari, the then Block Teacher Middle School, Kathar, currently deputed to the newly created Primary School, Diya Parmeshwar Mathiya, Simri, after examining the investigation report sent by the Investigation Officer cum Block Education Officer, Simri, the school was found closed during inspection.

Let us tell you that Shobha Kumari's original posting is in Middle School Kathar, while she was deputed to the newly created Primary School Diya Parmeshwar Mathiya. On 16 October 2023, the then Establishment DPO Mohd. Shariq Ashraf conducted a surprise inspection of the school. The inspection took place at 9.45 am and the school was found closed till then. On the basis of the investigation report of the DPO, the then District Education Officer issued an order on 22 October 2023 and recommended the suspension of both Shobha Kumari and the school in-charge Neelam Devi. In light of this, a meeting of the Block Planning Unit Simri was held and the suspension of both the teachers was made effective.

Block Education Officer

Simri

Concerned serial number teacher and famous teacher, Brimati Soma Kumari, 40 V. Kethar Block Sigri for information and proportionate service. Dedicated to the service of Block Development Officer Sigri with respect. Dedicated to the service of Nila Karbkram Padamiyavari, Establishment Baksar with respect for information. Respectfully dedicated to the service of Chilla Education Officer Baksar for information.

S.3 of Block Development Officer, Sigri suspended Mrs. Shobha Kumari, Senior Teacher, G.K. Kathar, currently posted as Subordinate Teacher, Dima Parmeshwar Nariya, Sigri and made Block Resource Center, Sigri the suspension headquarters.

By letter no. 726 dated 30.05.2025 of Block Development Officer, Sigri, Smt. Kunari has been suspended and relieved from departmental action. After being relieved from suspension and departmental action, Smt. Kumari was relieved from her post on 31.05.2025 in a Urvahan and was directed to ensure that she gives donation to her original school G.V. Kathar.

But the matter takes an interesting turn when teacher Shobha Kumari is relieved from suspension. On 30 May 2025, Simri BDO issued a letter no. 726 ordering to end Shobha Kumari's suspension and release her from departmental action. Not only this, the very next day she was also directed to join her original school Madhya Vidyalaya Kathar. According to the Panchayat Teacher Rules, decisions like lifting the suspension are possible only through a meeting of the Block Planning Unit. If the post of Block Pramukh is vacant, a meeting is held under the chairmanship of the Deputy Pramukh. The rules also say that it is necessary for the chief or deputy chief to correspond at least three times to call a meeting. But in this entire matter, the BDO took the decision without calling any meeting and without consulting the deputy chief. In the light of the direction received by the District Farmers Officer, Bakar, letter no. 1239 dated 22.10.2023, by letter no. 2440 of this office, dated 22.10.2023, Mrs. Shobha Kumari, Head Teacher, Ma School, Kathar Sanprati deputed, newly created primary school, Diya Parmeshwar Gathi, Block Shimri was suspended on certain charges and subjected to departmental action. Against the deprived teacher, charge sheet form-A was filed and the Block Education Officer, Sinri was nominated as the officer for operation/JIC officer, Tawa Block Supply Officer, Simri was nominated as the present officer. Investigation Officer Kari-Rah-Block Education Officer, Sigri has provided the day-wise investigation report through his office

Since at present the post of Head-Prabandh-Ayaksha, Block Planning Ichhai Simni is vacant.

Therefore, after examining the report submitted by the Investigation Officer-cum- Block Education Officer, Simri, in anticipation of approval in the next meeting to be held with the Block Planning Unit, Sigri, Mrs. Shobha Kumari, Block Teacher, Middle School, Kathar, presently deputed to Navjit Primary School Diya Parmeshwar Maviya, Block Sigri is suspended and removed from departmental action.

The matter did not stop at just lifting the suspension. The very next day after the teacher was relieved from suspension, her salary for the suspension period was also paid. Generally, the salary payment for the suspension period goes through a long process, which includes departmental investigation and verification. But in this case, the education department made it clear by making the salary payment at a record speed that Shobha Kumari is being given special benefits.

If the merit marks are equal, the one whose date of birth is earlier will be placed higher in the merit list. If there are equal marks and equal date of birth, then according to the English dictionary, the candidate whose name is first will be placed higher in the merit list. If there is equality in this also, the position of the candidate concerned will be determined in Maisha Sudi through lottery. (d) Merit list for appointment of Panchayat Primary Teacher of Graduate category-

The percentage obtained by adding both the marks and dividing by two will be the merit marks of the candidate. Additional weightage of 10 marks will be given to widows of retired soldiers in the merit marks.

If the merit marks are equal, the one whose date of birth is earlier will be placed higher in the merit list. If there are equal marks and same date of birth, then according to the English dictionary, the candidate whose name is first will be placed higher in the merit list. If there is equality in this also, the position of the candidates will be determined in the merit list through lottery.

The marks obtained will be calculated by excluding the marks of additional and special subjects. But calculation will be done only where optional subject is a compulsory subject. For graduation qualification, sum of the marks of all the subjects studied (except Technical and Engineering) will be considered. For candidates having prestige/equivalent qualification along with graduation, total marks will be obtained by adding the marks of subsidiary subjects and prestige and equivalent qualification. (vii) Constitution of Block Planning Committee and Block Planning Committee

For approval of merit list for appointment of category-block teachers and instructors of Panchayat Primary Teachers cadre and for appointment of selected candidates, a Block Planning Committee will be constituted at the block level as follows:- (1) Head of Panchayat Samiti (2) One member selected by the Education Committee of Panchayat Samiti (if the Chairman is male, the selected member shall be female) (3) One district level officer of Scheduled Caste/Scheduled Tribe (4) Nomination of Executive Officer, Panchayat Samad (3) by District Panchayat Raj Officer

Another layer of the case was revealed when the attendance of the teacher during the suspension period was checked. It was found that she marked her attendance by uploading a single photo every day on the departmental mobile app. This means that attendance was only a formality and the actual attendance was never confirmed. Despite this, the department released her full salary without any investigation. This has raised serious questions on the impartiality and transparency of the department. If departmental sources are to be believed, the teacher madam had to come to Simri BRC every day to mark her attendance during the suspension period. But she did not come on any day. The proof of this was found in the online attendance. When the Deputy Chief of Simri block Chandan Kunwar was contacted in the whole matter, he clearly said that he has no information about the action to end the suspension. He alleged that the BDO neither contacted him to call a meeting nor shared any information. The Deputy Chief warned that this issue will be raised in the upcoming meeting of the Twenty Point Committee so that it can be clear under what circumstances the BDO took such a big decision alone. On one hand, many teachers of the district keep visiting departmental offices for months for general procedures like suspension, retirement benefits or ACP, on the other hand, such fast action in a particular case has become a topic of discussion among teachers. This action of the department and Simri BDO has given the message that rules and laws are only on paper and the "kindness" of the departmental officers decides who will get relief and who will have to face trouble.

Many questions are being raised in this entire episode. The question is how did the BDO get the right to lift the suspension without calling a meeting. What was the intention of taking the decision alone by bypassing the Deputy Chief. Why was the salary released without checking the fake attendance on the mobile app. Monthly delay in the cases of other teachers of the department and quick action in this case, is this not bias?

This entire matter raises serious questions on the functioning of the education department. The transparency and accountability that is expected from the education system is missing here. This action taken by ignoring the rules not only creates distrust in the departmental system, but also indicates that influence and pressure have become the deciding factor in the education system. At the same time, this case also provides evidence of the strong penetration of the so-called dalat between the departmental officers and the planning unit. An attempt was made to contact the Simri BDO in this regard, but he disconnected the phone, due to which his side could not be taken. While Simri BEO Trilokinath Pandey said that absenteeism was sent on the basis of her attendance. The salary payment of the suspended teacher was made on the basis of absenteeism received from the block. Making attendance with a single photo on the mobile app is a matter of investigation. Something can be said on this subject only after coming to the office on Monday and seeing the data. If such fraud is proved, action will be taken as per the rules. - Vishnukant Rai, DPO, Establishment,