Two Assistant Professors working in the Chemistry department of Government Degree College Boys, Pulwama are being reported “absconding” from their duties and are believed to be working in Gulf countries as per the college sources.
The professor duo, whose names have been withheld, had joined the services in this college in June and August last year. the duo stayed in the college for no more than a month and have both gone on a medical leave. Insiders say these professors have been sharing cuts with the college administration to stay posted there without duties.
“After joining the services in this college, these two professors stopped attending their duties and applied for some medical leave. Both of them are working in Gulf countries and are earning salaries from this college as well as from the present employers,” sources said.
The duo after taking the leave initially again re-joined for few days and went “absconding” for the second time with one of the professors citing the reason of his wife’s scheduled delivery of a child, sources said, adding: “Firstly, the medical leave is granted to an employee itself and never because his/her spouse is undergoing some health issues. Secondly, barely into their first-month service, were they granted a medical leave when as per the rules and guidelines, an employee cannot be granted a medical leave during his first year’s tenure. There is a clear nexus between the college administration and these two professors, because of which there is no query over their absence since all these months now.”
However, the college principal said that he has granted both the professors a leave after they properly produced a medical certificate from the concerned superintendent of the hospital.
“They are not actually absconding but after joining their postings they both went on medical leave. On the basis of medical certificates which they got from the medical superintendent, we are treating their services as discontinuous but they are still posted here. I have properly entered a leave in their service books and have withheld their salaries for the period of their absence. I have already communicated and reported their absence to the Under-Secretary Education department as I sensed something fishy,” said Principal Government Degree College Pulwama, Bashir Ahmed.
He added: “There is no relaxation on my part as I have released salaries for only that period when they were present in the college. As per the requirement of the law, I have provided them leave when they provided the right credentials. It is now the job of the higher authorities to verify whether they are working elsewhere or not. If both of them have committed any wrongdoing, I won’t be letting them go unpunished.”
The Deputy Commissioner Pulwama, G M Dar, on Tuesday sought details from the principal of this college and asked the concerned to immediately provide the report regarding the current location of the accused duo.
“I am looking into this matter and have sought a complete report from the principal. We are on it and will soon let you know about the further details,” said DC Pulwama.
However, as per a source, the Crime Branch has taken the cognizance of the matter and have confidentially started the investigations since one of the accused is very close to the ruling party. One of the accused is working in Oman and the other is teaching in the Medina University while being posted at Degree College Pulwama simultaneously, added the source.
