The high court Tuesday directed that existing elementary teachers’ training colleges should be granted recognition in view of the amended Jammu and Kashmir school education department rules, and the institutes defying these rules should be closed.
While closing a public interest litigation seeking probe into a multi-crore scam in ETT admissions, a division bench of Justice Ali Muhammad Magrey and Justice Sanjeev Kumar directed the competent authority to inspect the existing institutes and consider their recognition or affiliation in accordance with the amended rules.
“The competent authority shall also ensure that the institutes, which do not meet the requirements in terms of the applicable rules, shall be closed,” the court said.
The court, meanwhile, directed the crime branch to complete investigation and file the final report within two months before the competent court into a case of corruption, cheating and forgery involving some ETT institutions.
The court also held that the ETT institutions, which were closed in the wake of the case and subsequently sealed on its orders, should approach the competent authority for recognition or affiliation under applicable rules.
“In the event the institutions meet the required requirements, the competent authority shall take appropriate action for de-sealing the said institutions. The administrative actions against the erring officers/officials of the state consequent upon the orders passed by this court shall be taken to its logical conclusion,” the court said.
Any left out grievance of the petitioners with reference to governing fee structure etc., the court said, should be taken up with the competent authority and in the event such grievance is taken up, the same should be addressed and redressed in accordance with law.
The court closed the PIL by Parents Coordination Committee seeking probe into the multi-crore scam regarding irregularities in admissions to ETT colleges in the state.
The inquiry conducted by the BOSE had revealed that admissions to ETT colleges in Jammu and Kashmir were a big scandal and crores of rupees were given and taken as bribes.