The Arunachal Pradesh government has dismissed the services of 256 teachers, clerks, and multi-tasking staffers for submitting “forged and fabricated” appointment letters to relevant authorities, bypassing the formalities of the education department, officials reported on Friday.

Separate termination orders were issued by State Education Commissioner Amjad Tak for these employees in various districts. An inquiry committee, formed to investigate the alleged irregularities, concluded that the appointment letters in question had “never been issued from the directorate of elementary education.”

The orders disclosed that a considerable number of primary teachers (PRTs), trained graduate teachers (TGTs), upper and lower division clerks (UDCs and LDCs), and multi-tasking staff (MTS) had obtained their positions by presenting appointment orders later revealed to be fraudulent.

“All the illegal appointments were made by different authorities, and an inquiry is ongoing. A deputy director of secondary education in Longding district has been suspended for his involvement in the irregularities. Further administrative action will be taken against others implicated in the case,” Tak stated.

Chief Minister Pema Khandu has directed the case to be handed over to a special investigation team of the state police, the official added.

As per the orders, 101 individuals in Siang district, 72 in Changlang, 26 in Anjaw, 18 in East Siang, 10 in Longding, eight in Upper Subansiri, six in Kurung Kumey, four each in Lohit and Lower Siang, three in the state capital region, two in Tirap, one in West Siang, and one staffer working under the deputy director of secondary education in Upper Siang district have had their services terminated.

The education department has also instructed concerned authorities to file FIRs regarding the forgery and fabrication of appointment orders.

“After a thorough examination of relevant records, the committee determined that the alleged appointment orders had never been officially issued by the directorate of elementary education,” another official added.

Also read: UP: Government teacher fired 26 years later for using fake documents to secure job