9 able-bodied teachers in Hassan got jobs under physical disability quota

The Upalokayukta has recommended action against nine government teachers in Hassan district who got jobs under the physically handicapped quota by submitting false certificates and medical board reports.

An investigation showed that the teachers, working in Holenarasipur taluk, have "zero percentage disability".

A man had filed a complaint with the Upalokayukta in 2013 against a total of 12 teachers in the taluk. His contention was that all the teachers appointed under the physically handicapped quota had submitted false certificates and medical board reports.

Upalokayukta Justice Subhash B Adi ordered an enquiry by the Lokayukta police. The man later filed an application seeking to withdraw the complaint, saying he did not possess any evidence to substantiate the allegations.

In 2014, the superintendent of Lokayukta police, Hassan, gave a report that nine out of the 12 teachers had indeed submitted false certificates. The report also attached a re-examination conducted by the medical board, an official said.

The investigation officer of the Lokayukta police collected the documents pertaining to the physical disability of the teachers and asked them to appear before the medical board.

During the enquiry, the teachers argued that some of them had already put in 20 years of service and that the board had conducted a superficial examination. Some teachers claimed they had taken ayurvedic medicines for over 10 years and as a result, their disability had reduced.

The enquiry showed that the disability required for securing the jobs under the reserved class was a permanent disability of 40% and above.

The Upalokayukta report stated that if the disability is such that it can be cured, it cannot be considered a permanent disability. "It's not a case of regularisation based on the length of service. It's a case of requirement of basic qualification in securing an appointment in public service," the report stated.

The Upalokayukta report also quoted the medical board's observation that "The teachers, who have been examined, are not suffering from any permanent disability and their disability is measured as zero."

The Upalokayukta has asked the state government to take action against the teachers and submit a report within three months.

Justice Subhash B Adi, Upalokayukta: "The complaint relates to a few appointments in one taluk. If it is found that nine out of the 12 teachers examined by the board are found to be not suffering from any disability, there might be similar appointments elsewhere. It would be necessary to make a similar examination of such appointments under the disability quota in respect of other taluks in other districts."