SHILLONG, Oct 27 - A fresh petition has been filed in Meghalaya High Court on the controversial Education scam with the petitioner again seeking a CBI probe. The Writ petition has been filed by Civil Society Women�s Organisation (CSWO) president Agnes Kharshiing. She urged that the earlier order passed in the case by Justice SR Sen, on October 3, be set aside and that the case be taken up by a Division bench.
Justice Sen had ruled that since the case is similar to a pending case filed before the Supreme Court, taking up the case in the High Court would tantamount to judicial indiscipline.
However, the petitioner has pointed out that the case pending before the Supreme Court is civil in nature, but the petition before the High Court relates to criminal charges.
The Education scam relates to politicians, top officials and then Education Minister Ampareen Lyngdoh allegedly involved in tampering of candidates� mark sheets during recruitment of Assistant Teachers for Lower Primary Schools in 2010.
The scam was unearthed by CBI. It was found that officials from Education department tampered with the answer sheets with white ink to favour other candidates, who were recommended by politicians and those in power.
But the State Government set aside the CBI report and constituted a High Level State Committee to probe the matter. The government move later led to a chain of Court cases wrapping the matter into legal wrangles from 2010.
Currently, Laitumkhrah police station is investigating the case after an FIR was filed before the SP, East Khasi Hills in 2010. Kharshiing�s argument for handing over the case to the CBI is: �there has been an inordinate delay caused by the investigating agency and failure on the part of the State police to do proper and fair investigation due to administrative and political compulsion.�
She has further stated that there was a �failure on the part of the Investigating agency to arrest the accused even after completion of enquiry by the CBI, which indicates the involvement of high profile officials, politicians and Ministers.�
