Private school booked for corrupt practices

The Anti-Corruption Branch of the Delhi government on Wednesday carried out searches at a private school in north Delhi in connection with a case against the school management for allegedly paying lesser amount to teachers than what was shown on record. Nivedita Khandekar reports.

The Anti-Corruption Branch of the Delhi government on Wednesday carried out searches at a private school in north Delhi in connection with a case against the school management for allegedly paying lesser amount to teachers than what was shown on record.

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Even though the school is privately run, the branch stepped in, in this matter, as the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) had allotted land to the school at concessional rates.

Investigations revealed that the school authorities never gave appointment letters to teachers and had teachers' certificates/documents, passbooks and cheque books with them.

"The teachers were paid just Rs 9,000 per month," sources said.

"The school management even kept all teachers' resignation letters ready with them."

"Suspicious that the school management was paying them less than the actual salary, teachers from St Angels'

School in Sector-15, Rohini, filed an application under the Right to Information (RTI) Act with the nationalised bank where their accounts were maintained," said officials on condition of anonymity.

With proof in hand, one teacher initially lodged a complaint. Soon, 14 others joined as complainants.

The branch that registered a case against the private school management and conducted searches at the school premises on Wednesday.

"Several incriminating documents were found during the searches. It also was clear

that the school management transferred approximately Rs 20 lakh from the account of the society which was running the school to another private society's account," the official said.

"The secretary for both the organisations is the same," added the official.