School forced to return funds

Statesman News Service

MALDA, Feb. 8: The invalid managing committee of Sukanta Memorial High School in Kaliachak block had withdrawn Rs 1,17,826 from the United Bank of India, Kaliachak branch, illegally but after the intervention of the Malda district inspector of school, the school had to return the amount to bank. The Malda DI, Mr Chinmay Sarkar said: “The invalid school committee had withdrawn the money illegally from the bank for teachers’ salary for the month of December. On receiving information, I informed the matter to the bank manager on 4 February about illegal transaction.” “The manager Mr S Chatterjee lastly went to the school and forced them to deposit the money,” Mr Sarkar said. The district inspector of school had asked the bank how it could make a payment to the school without the authentication of the signature of office bearer of the school committee. “I did not authenticate the signature of the school authorities to the bank for the payment,” said Mr Sarkar.According to the records of district inspector of school, the Sukanta Memorial High School did not have a valid managing committee and there was an administrator appointed by the district inspector of school. The term of the administrator was ended on 30 November, 2007 and no administrator was appointed for the school.But the teacher in charge of the school and other former members of the school committee had conducted an election to form a managing committee on 18 December and without informing the district inspector of school they completed office bearers’ election on 17 January, showing a name of government nominee falsely. The district inspector of school had issued a letter to the school on 15 January and informed them that no government nominee was given to them officially. “The school intentionally did not accept the letter issued on 15 January and completed office bearers’ election ignoring government's direction,” said Mr Sarkar. According to him, the entire matter is now under the consideration of board of secondary education. The board will decide how they would form managing committee now. “To get salary the teacher in charge would have to appeal for the appointment of an administrator. If they do that I will appoint administrator within 24 hours for the salary of the teachers,” the Malda DI said.