The Social Welfare Department has suspended Joint Director Sunil Kumar Visen in connection with alleged irregularities in the recruitment of course coordinators under the Abhyuday coaching scheme, which provides free preparation for competitive examinations to economically weaker meritorious students. He has been attached to the directorate and a departmental inquiry has been ordered. Action is also being initiated against retired Joint Director R.K. Singh for alleged negligence.
Preliminary findings reveal that 48 out of 69 course coordinators appointed through an outsourcing process were ineligible. As per norms, only candidates who had cleared the PCS main examination were eligible for the post, but this mandatory criterion was ignored during selection.
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Serious lapses in verification
The inquiry report points to gross negligence by the departmental committee constituted for interviews and document verification. Original certificates of several candidates were not properly verified, and key records related to the selection process were missing from official files, raising serious concerns about transparency and due diligence.
An FIR had already been registered against the outsourcing agency Avani Paridhi Energy and Communication Limited, which has been held prima facie responsible. Administrative proceedings are underway. However, based on the evidence available so far, no action has been taken against Social Welfare officers Anamika Singh and Shivam Sagar.
Complaint triggered probe
The matter came to light after a complaint regarding recruitment irregularities was submitted on October 29 to the Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Social Welfare. The subsequent inquiry uncovered violations of eligibility norms, absence of documentation and lapses in verification procedures.
Credibility of scheme under cloud
The Abhyuday scheme aims to provide free coaching support to meritorious students from disadvantaged backgrounds. The recruitment controversy has cast a shadow on the scheme’s credibility. Departmental sources indicate that the entire selection process may be reviewed and appointments of ineligible candidates could be cancelled.
Next steps
Further disciplinary action will be taken once responsibility is fixed in the departmental inquiry. The government is also considering measures to strengthen verification mechanisms and digitise records to ensure transparency in future recruitments.
Officials said the action is intended to send a clear message that negligence or irregularities in student welfare schemes will not be tolerated.
About the author – Rehan Khan is a law student and legal journalist with a keen interest in cybercrime, digital fraud, and emerging technology laws. He writes on the intersection of law, cybersecurity, and online safety, focusing on developments that impact individuals and institutions in India.
