& his son & then Member Of Parliament; then Political Advisor To CM; two IAS Officers and two years rigorous imprisonment to fifty other then officials of Education Department, Haryana Government for irregularities in the appointment of JBT Teachers In Haryana
New Delhi, March 5, 2015: The Delhi High Court has today upheld the sentence of ten years Rigorous Imprisonment in respect of five accused persons i.e Om Prakash Chautala, the then CM, Haryana; his son Ajay Singh Chautala, then Member of Parliament(MP); Vidya Dhar, IAS, then OSD to CM of Haryana; Sher Singh Badshami, the then Political Advisor to the CM, Haryana; Sanjeev Kumar, IAS, the then Director, Primary Education, Haryana and reduced the sentence of the remaining fifty other then officials of Education Department, Haryana Government to undergo two years Rigorous Imprisonment.
The Special Judge for CBI Cases, Rohini, Delhi had earlier sentenced 55 accused to undergo Rigorous Imprisonment from four to ten years on 22.01.2013 in the said case.
All the 55 persons had filed appeal against their conviction order in Delhi High Court. After hearing both sides, the Delhi High Court has today dismissed all the 55 appeals. The High Court has upheld the punishment of 10 years Rigorous Imprisonment in respect of 5 accused persons and reduced the punishment of all the remaining 50 convicts to 2 years Rigorous Imprisonment.
CBI had registered a Preliminary Enquiry(PE) on the directions of Supreme Court dated 25.11.2003 in Writ Petition Crl No. 93 of 2003 relating to matter of Sanjiv Kumar V/s State of Haryana on the allegation of irregularities in appointment of Junior Basic Trained Teachers by the Government of Haryana in the year 1999-2000. On the basis of findings in the said Preliminary Enquiry, a regular case was registered on 24.05.2004 Under Section 120B r/w 420, 467, 468 & 471 and 13(2) r/w 13(1)(d) of PC Act 1988 against the then officer on Special Duty (OSD) to the Chief Minister Haryana; then Political Advisor to CM, Haryana; then Chairpersons & Members of the District level Selection Committee constituted for the posts of JBT teachers in the Districts of Ambala, Bhiwani, Faridabad, Fatehabad, Gurgaon, Jhajjar, Jind, Karnal, Kurukshetra, Kaithal, Mahindergarh, Panchkula, Panipat, Rohtak, Rewari, Sirsa, Sonepat & Yamunanagar ; and other persons.
Investigation by the CBI established that the appointments of 3032 teachers were done on the basis a fraudulently prepared Second Set of Interview Lists, which were allegedly made at the behest of the then CM; his son, who was the then Member of Parliament; the then OSD to the CM; the then Political Advisor to CM; the then Director, Primary Education and others. Original set of List of Interview Marks of the candidates on basis of which appointments ought to have been made were also revealed during investigation.
After thorough investigation, CBI filed a charge Sheet on 06.06.2008 against the then OSD to CM of Haryana; the then Political advisor to the Chief Minister, Haryana; the then Director Primary Education, Haryana; the then CM, Haryana; then Member of Parliament and 57 other then officials of Haryana, Under Section 120B r/w 420, 467, 468, 471 of IPC & Section 13(2) r/w 13(1)(d) of PC Act 1988.
Cognizance on the Charge Sheet was taken on 16.07.2008. Charges were framed on 23.07.2011 against 61 accused persons by the Special Judge, CBI Cases, Rohini. One retired official of Education Department, Haryana was discharged. Defence evidence concluded on 04.08.2012. Final Arguments concluded on 17.12.2012. During the trial, 6 accused persons, all retired officials of Education Department, Haryana had expired. The CBI produced 68 witnesses during trial.
The Trial Court at Delhi had convicted 55 accused persons on 16.01.2013 and pronounced the sentence on 22.01.2013. / (SK Vyas/Jalandhar)