IMPHAL, June 28: Amidst the government’s effort to bring transparency in the Education department, the Chief Secretary has received a formal complaint against a former principal of CI College accusing him of misappropriating Rs. 1, 07, 40,000.
Official documents in IFP’s possession reveal that the former Principal is Dr. Yendrembam Naba, son of Y Irabot Singh of Haobam Marak Chingtham Leikai under Singjamei Police Station in Imphal West District.
The person who sent the formal complaint has been identified as Moirangthem Tombi Singh, son of M Ibomcha Singh, from Bishnupur’s CI College Road.
The formal complaint was sent to the office of the Chief Secretary, also the Commissioner of the State Vigilance Commission, on Thursday.
Copies of the formal complaint were delivered to Higher & Technical Education commissioner, University & Higher Education director and Superintendant of Police (Vigilance). In his formal complaint, M Tombi Singh seeks appropriate disciplinary actions against the former Principal by framing a criminal case against him.
According to our sources, under secretary (Hr, Edn) Government of Manipur, P Megha Singh issued an order (No. 3/47/97-S/SE date ) on September 18, 1998, making it mandatory that the bank accounts of 28 government colleges should be jointly operated by their Principals and Addl.
Director of Education (U). CI College was listed at serial number 24 among those Colleges. The circular was sent to the Principals of all the 28 Colleges and the managers of the concerned banks.
Apart from this, another order ( No. 3/110/98-EDC) by Addl. Director of Education (University & Hr. Edn) Dr. Ng Navachandra Singh on October 20, 2005 stated that cheques of the government colleges should be countersigned by Addl. Director( University & Hr Edn).
Meanwhile, Director (Hr Edn), Government of Manipur, P Vaiphei on August 27, 2013 issued an order (No. 3/110/98-EDC dated 27-8-2013) stating that the operation of accounts of these colleges must have the counter signatures of Directorate of Higher Education. The order also informed the Principals that they can’t operate separate accounts illegally.
Former Principal Dr. Yendrembam Naba opened a private account (No. 0854020000053) in a branch of the UCO bank in Bishnupur which is illegal and violates the Government orders. The Directorate of Hr Edn was not made aware of this account.
It is alleged that he has withdrawn Rupees 1, 07,400 by using several cheques between January 1 last year and June 24 this year from the account opened under Principal CI College.
Under these circumstances, the formal complaint was made to frame a criminal case against him for misappropriation of such a large amount of public money and to initiate a departmental enquiry against him under CCS ( CCA) Rules,1965 to mete appropriate punishment to him.
Meanwhile, amidst the allegation, it is learnt that a case is pending with the High Court of Manipur with regards to the transfer order (June 7, 2014) released by Higher Education Department, against Y Naba Singh.
As per the order, Y Naba Singh, has been transferred to Manipur College, Imphal as Associate Professor in Geography from his post as Principal CI College, Bishnupur while L Mahendra Singh, Associate Professor and HOD in English, Manipur replacing Naba as Principal CI College.
Contending that L Mhendra Singh was junior to him, Naba lodged a writ petition at the High Court of Manipur challenging the transfer order.
The respondents of the petitioner included the State of Manipur represented by Commissioner (HTE), Government of Manipur, Deputy Secretary (Hr&Tech. Edn.) Government of Manipur and L Mahendra Singh resident of Kwakeithel Thounaojam Leikai.
Further in his petition Naba, further pointed out that Kh Jayentakumar Singh, who is currently serving as in-charge Principal of Manipur College was also junior to him.
The counsel of the petition also reportedly submitted tentative seniority list (dated November 2, 2011) which showed the petitioner is senior to both Kh Jayentakumar Singh as well as Mohendra Singh.
In response to the petition, the counsel of the respondent also submitted counter affidavit before the court claiming that the seniority list was not up to date, published in the year 1991, and may not be correct.
Having carefully examined both the claims, on June 17 the single bench of N Kotiswar Singh, High Court of Manipur released an order issuing notice to the respondents to furnish a fresh seniority list within three weeks besides directing the respondents not to allow the transfer to effect.