Charges of serious irregularities have been levelled against Bajali Teachers’ Training College, Patacharkuchi in Barpeta district by its three Governing Body (GB) members who have been associated with the college since its inception.
The members have already submitted a petition before the State Education Minister stating all details about the irregularities and appealed him to institute a proper inquiry in this regard for maintaining a good educational atmosphere in the college.
The college, which is affiliated to Gauhati University (GU) and recognized by National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT), has completed 25 years.
Recently, the president of the governing body of the college, Bhabit Ch. Haloi, a retired subject teacher of Patacharkuchi Vidyapith HS School, was replaced by one political party leader though his term was supposed to end on August 19, 2019.
Three GB member earlier walked out of a meeting as a mark of protest against the irregularities. They informed the matter to the higher authorities and submitted a petition to the principal pointing out the irregularities. They also sent copies of the letter to the higher authorities.
The new GB president is Pabindra Deka, MLA, Patacharkuchi constituency.
The three GB members are Atul Ch Sarma, retired teacher of Patacharkuchi Girls’ School and Dharanidhar Roy, retired principal of Halflong Govt,. College and Bhabit Ch Haloi, retired subject teacher of Patacharkuchi Vidyapith HS School.
The three GB members informed that they were surprised at the process of replacing the president of the college’s Governing Body. They later met the Director of State Council of Educational Research and Training (SCERT) and wanted to know how it was possible to nominate a new GB president in the college. They also questioned the SCERT Director how can a political leader lead a Governing Body of an educational institution.
The new GB president was nominated with a letter from the Director of SCERT.
The members informed that the Director of SCERT, Dr. Nirada Devi, sent a reply of a letter of Dr. Homeswar Das, principal of the Bajali Teachers’ Training College, vide letter No SCERT/ACA/NCTE/268/2017/110 issued on May 8, 2018 against a hand written letter of the principal requesting her to nominate one SCERT member in the GB and nominate Pabindra Deka as the president of the GB.
“But it was discovered that the letter number and date was same, but the content of the letter was different in the SCERT office copy and the Bajali TT College copy. In the college copy, the Director nominated the president and one member but in the office copy, it was not the same. In the office copy, it was clearly written that for nominating president of GB, the principal was requested to take up the matter with the GU, the affiliated University,” the members said.
They raised question how was the letter doctored? The members also submitted a memorandum to the State Education Minister alleging various irregularities like collection of fine from students indiscriminately, nomination of a political leader as president of GB of Bajjali TT College by the SCERT, alleged “mental torture” on the working staff by the principal, appointment of staff without advertisement, withdrawal of suspension of one of the teaching staff who was expelled in the M.Ed examination by the GB; no proper audit, etc.
Meanwhile, show cause notice has been served to the three members of the GB by the new president. The reply to the show cause notice has also been submitted by the members.