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Chandigarh DEO among 2 get show-cause notice for holding up school upkeep funds
The two officials — Chandigarh DEO and DCFA — were also asked to report details of pending engineering work files in their offices
The UT director school education (DSE) has issued show-cause notices to the district education officer (DEO) and deputy controller finance and accounts (DCFA) for allegedly holding up funds meant for maintenance of schools.
The notices were issued following a meeting by UT education secretary Purva Garg on June 20.
The two officials were also asked to report details of pending engineering work files in their offices. The development came in the wake of the inspection by UT administrator and Punjab governor Banwarilal Purohit at Government High School, Hallomajra, on May 21.
However, DSE Harsuhinder Pal Singh Brar clarified that it was not in respect of just this particular school and timely release of funds for maintenance of various government schools was being held up by the department.
The DSE said he, along with other senior officials, had been inspecting multiple government schools daily during the summer vacations, adding that they were also working on monsoon preparedness to deal with potential waterlogging in schools in low-lying areas.
Meanwhile, DEO Prabhjot Kaur said it was routine procedure and a formality initiated by the department.
Stating that she had submitted her reply, Kaur said, “There are no files pending on our end. My office and the DCFA clear the files for works related to the UT engineering department at the earliest. The department is looking into where these funds are being held up as their release is not controlled by us.”
She added that the department had been working hard to upgrade the facilities at the government schools before classes resumed. A meeting regarding the Hallomajra school with a tin roof has also been called this week, as per sources, and a visit to the school by the UT officials is also likely.
