Imphal, March 03: Education Minister Francis Ngajokpa today informed the House that the 979 suspected cases of fake appointment in School Education Department have been handed over to the Vigilance Department for further investigation while police have registered FIR against another 214 cases.

The Education Minister was responding to a call attention motion raised by MLA Dr Nimaichand Luwang.

Drawing the attention of the Minister to a news report published in The Sangai Express which stated that investigation into 214 confirmed cases of fake appointment in Churachandpur district has been hampered as the Education Department has not handed over the required documents to the police, the MLA wondered whether it is because the matter is too complicated or the Education Department is trying to hide some of the facts.

He proposed that the matter should be handed over to a House Committee.

The MLA asserted that officials of the Education Department, ZEOs and employees in Treasury offices are bound to involve in the fake appointment cases .

In such a situation it would be difficult to solve to the case as every effort is likely to be made to cover up the matter, Dr Luwang said.

In his response, the Education Minister said the present Govt is aware of the seriousness of the matter.

Though fake appointment scandal dates back to the previous Govt, the present Govt takes it seriously and every possible efforts being made to solve the case so that befitting action could be taken up against those who are involved.

Since the case is being looked after not only by the Education Department, but also by the Police, district administration and other authorities concerned, it is not any easy job, the Minister said, adding the officials who are investigating into the case are also received threat and intimidation from certain quarters.

Despite all these, the Minister said, the Govt has taken up the responsibility of solving the case and so far 979 suspected cases have been handed over to the Vigilance for further investigation and 460 related files submitted accordingly.

During course of scrutinising 300 files, 192 cases have been cleared while discrepancies have been detected in another 108 files.

The remaining files would also be submitted subsequently, the Minister assured the House.

The MLA demanded the list of the confirmed fake appointees as well as of the suspected cases.

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