Imphal, August 18: The High powered Committee constituted by the Government under the Manipur Public Servants' Liability Rules 2006, to probe irregularities regarding appointments in the Board of Secondary Education, manipur (BSEM) has served show cause notice to the Board's former Secretary in-charge Ph Nandakumar Sharma.

The show cause notice, reportedly served on August 8, asked the official to explain within 15 days as to why action should not be initiated against him as the Committee stumbled upon irregularities of appointments being effected even though there was complete ban on all appointments.

According to an official source, the then Secretary in-charge made some irregular appointments of contract employees flouting prescribed norms consequently leading to the Committee on December 12, 2006 entrusting Commissioner (Education) to furnish relevant documents of the appointments/promotion orders issued by Nandakumar Sharma.

The Committee is informed to have perused documents submitted by the Commissioner and report of the enquiry committee headed by IAS (Retd) Kh Dhirendra Singh in two sittings last month.

The enquiry committee of the Board is said to have quizzed Education Secretary (Schools) S Sunderlal Singh, Ph Nandakumar and Secretary in-charge L Rajmohon Singh during which it came to light that Nandakumar effected/ordered the appointments.

Accusations levelled against Nandakumar includes engagement/appointment of persons on repeated basis which tantamount to violating Rule 5(2) of the BSEM; 'persons engaged/appointed previously re-engaged for the same work or purpose in the same capacity by keeping a few day's break' and ; 'the artificial break which he allowed between two temporary appointments/engagements amounted to fictional break which did not cause any break of service of the incumbents, the source disclosed.

apart from necessity for advertisement in case temporary appointments are to be continued for six months which Nandakumar had not complied with, the fact that there was blanket ban on appointments in departments, grant-in-institutions etc entails penalty against the official, it explained.

The source further informed that taking into account facts placed/provided to the High Powered Committee, Ph Nandakumar Sharma had been asked to explain why the amount paid to such irregular engagements/appointments should not be recovered from his monthly salary and entitlements payable by the Board with effect from August, 2007.

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