VIJAYAWADA: In a bid to check corruption and other irregularities, the State government has issued a circular that all Class I and II officers of the Education Department should submit property statements by January 15 every year.
The School Education Department, under the instructions of HRD Minister Nara Lokesh, issued a circular to this effect on Wednesday, which mandates all government employees, excluding Last Grade Service members and Record Assistants, to submit annual property statements before January 15.
These statements must detail immovable properties, and movable assets exceeding Rs 1,00,000 in value, held by the employee or their family members. Officers failing to comply with the directive within the stipulated time will face disciplinary action.
Vijay Rama Raju V, Director of School Education, reiterated, “All Class I and II officers must obtain prior permission before leaving headquarters and secure approval for any type of leave. Strict action will be taken against deviations from these directives.” The circular also specified that increments should only be processed with sanction orders from the Director of School Education.
Speaking to TNIE, a union leader highlighted the efforts of HRD Minister in combating corruption.
“This is a significant step in cleansing the department of irregularities and corruption at district and mandal levels. Earlier, the centralised website implementation for work adjustments of the teachers saved crores by preventing ground-level corruption. This new directive strengthens the drive against malpractices,” he said.
The circular also noted that leave protocols must align with established rules, including approval from district collectors for casual leaves with intimation to the Director of School Education. The directive stresses strict adherence to these rules, warning that any non-compliance will result in stringent actions.
Teachers’ unions have welcomed the move, with many expressing satisfaction over the department’s proactive measures. “These actions will benefit teachers who have suffered financial losses due to corrupt officials. It’s a long-overdue change,” the union leader added.
It has come to the notice of the department that some officers have been found sanctioning Annual Grade Increments (AGIs) without appropriate authorisation from higher authorities. Furthermore, officers, including Regional Joint Directors of School Education (RJDSEs) and District Education Officers (DEOs), were reported to have left their headquarters without prior approval, causing administrative disruptions.
The measures reflect a robust approach to fostering accountability and transparency in the State’s education system, aiming to restore trust and streamline operations at all levels, he observed.