The Punjab and Haryana high court on Wednesday summoned director general school education (DGSE), Punjab, for not refunding the application fee charged in the recruitment of headmasters in 2012.
The recruitment process for 222 headmasters was scrapped later by the government but the fee amount charged, stated to be around Rs 50 lakh, was not returned to the applicants.
The petitioner was hearing a public interest petition by a practising advocate, seeking direction to the respondents to immediately refund the fee amount, along with interest, which was collected by the office of the director general school education, Punjab, against the advertisement issued for recruitment of 222 headmasters in 222 schools on contract basis under the Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan Authority.
It was stated that from each general category candidate, an amount of Rs 500 was charged as application fee, and from each reserved category (SC/ST) candidate, an amount of Rs 250 was charged. But the selection process was later cancelled. But in spite of the decision taken that the aforesaid amount be refunded to the applicants, it was not refunded.
While issuing the notice to the state government and other respondents, the division bench of justice SK Mittal and justice HS Sidhu specifically directed the DGSE to remain present in the court on May 14, the next date of hearing, along with an affidavit, explaining the circumstances, under which the said amount collected by his office had not been refunded to the applicants.
{{/usCountry}}While issuing the notice to the state government and other respondents, the division bench of justice SK Mittal and justice HS Sidhu specifically directed the DGSE to remain present in the court on May 14, the next date of hearing, along with an affidavit, explaining the circumstances, under which the said amount collected by his office had not been refunded to the applicants.
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