Srinagar: Special Anti-corruption Court Jammu has ordered the framing of charges against key figures in the long-standing Elementary Teachers Training (ETT) institutes scam, which has been pending for the past nine years.
Among those implicated are M A Charoo, the then Chairman of JK BOSE, Bashir Ahmed Dar, the former Director Academics, and owners of five ETT institutes, including Manish Suri, Sudershan Kumar, Kamal Kumar Gupta, Ashok Kumar, and Rajesh Sharma.
Also, the court has expanded the scope of the case, bringing in other accused who were previously overlooked. Bailable warrants have been issued for their appearance at the next hearing.
The origins of the case trace back to a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed in the High Court at Srinagar, prompting the subsequent investigation and charge sheet in 2015, leading to the closure of the PIL.
The charge sheet alleges a widespread scam in the educational sector, with the establishment of 22 ETT institutes without proper authorization, infrastructure, or adherence to educational standards.
The nexus between the Board authorities and institute owners facilitated the enrollment of students from outside the state, who were promised degrees without attending classes.
The scam came to light in 2010 following an inquiry by the A K Sen Committee, which revealed the fraudulent nature of these institutes. Subsequent FIRs were registered, leading to the current proceedings.
Despite earlier directions for further investigation, the court expressed dissatisfaction with the progress, particularly with the SIT's handling of the case.
Consequently, charges have now been framed against the accused, with additional individuals implicated.
The court has emphasized the urgency of addressing this matter, given its prolonged duration and the gravity of the allegations.
The next hearing is scheduled for June 3, where the newly accused individuals are expected to appear.
