SRINAGAR: The Directorate of School Education Kashmir (DSEK) has initiated an in-depth inquiry into the ‘unauthorised absence’ of a Rehbar-e-Taleem (ReT) teacher at Primary School Aragam in north Kashmir’s Bandipora district.
The teacher, Arsullah Habib, has reportedly not performed his teaching duties for the past 21 years, instead securing non-teaching assignments at the Chief Education Officer’s (CEO) Office and the Deputy Commissioner’s (DC) Office in Bandipora.
Despite his appointment under the ReT scheme in 2004, Habib allegedly never taught in the classroom, instead obtaining attachments to government offices and drawing an annual salary of Rs 13 lakh, while students at his designated school remained without a teacher.
In a further controversial development, Habib was sent for a BEd training programme in 2021 — a course designed to enhance teaching skills — though he never applied them in a classroom setting.
Local residents claim that his presence at the school has been rare. “He appeared briefly in March this year and then disappeared again,” said a villager.
Public frustration has grown over how Habib maintained administrative roles despite government orders mandating the return of all deputed teachers to schools. While others resumed their teaching responsibilities, Habib was instead appointed as a coordinator for an IEC anti-drug campaign under the DC Bandipora’s office, further keeping him away from his teaching duties.
Following the public outcry, DSEK has appointed Joint Director (North), Hakeem Tanveer, as the Inquiry Officer to investigate how Habib managed to evade classroom responsibilities for over two decades.
A preliminary report by the District Vigilance Officer and Deputy Chief Education Officer of Bandipora has highlighted the need for a comprehensive probe to uncover how the teacher avoided teaching duties for so long.
The Inquiry Officer has been instructed to submit a detailed report with recommendations within ten days, facilitating further action against Habib and any officials who may have enabled his prolonged absence. (KNO)
