The Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau (VACB) conducted lightning inspections at the higher secondary directorate, deputy directorate, and regional offices in the State on Friday.
Operation Red Tape was conducted following complaints of widespread corruption and irregularities in the section handling teacher/non-teacher appointments in aided higher secondary schools and the section handling the financial aspects of these officials. Lightning inspections were conducted simultaneously at these offices across the State at 11 a.m.
The VACB got a tip-off that the officials were seeking bribes and accepting gifts for teacher appointments in aided higher secondary schools, regularisation of appointments, clearing teachers’ benefits and grants for school managements, and creation of new posts. The files of those who refused to pay would not be cleared and would be set aside. There were also complaints that out of the many applications for various requirements such as provident fund, DA arrears, surrender, fixation, and leave increment arrears, only some were cleared in a time-bound manner. Only if the officials received a bribe would action be taken on the applications; else they would be ignored.
