The district administration in Uttar Pradesh’s Moradabad has initiated strict action after allegations of large-scale irregularities surfaced in admissions carried out under the Right to Education (RTE) scheme. Acting on the directions of the District Magistrate, police have registered a case against former RTE District Coordinator Amit Kumar Singh at Mundhapande police station. The accused has been charged with allegedly facilitating fake admissions in private schools and failing to ensure proper distribution of government funds meant for economically weaker students.
The controversy has triggered concern within the Basic Education Department and district administration, with officials treating the matter as a serious case involving possible financial and administrative misconduct. Authorities have now launched a detailed investigation into the alleged irregularities, and sources indicate that the role of several private schools and departmental employees may also come under scrutiny.
Fake Enrolments and Suspicious Records
Under the Right to Education Act, private schools are required to reserve 25 percent of their seats for children belonging to economically weaker sections of society. The government reimburses schools for the educational expenses of these students. However, allegations in the present case suggest that the provision was misused by showing admissions of children who were either non-existent or allegedly ineligible under the scheme’s criteria.
The issue reportedly came to light after repeated complaints from parents prompted the Basic Education Officer to constitute an inquiry committee. During verification of school records and departmental documents, the committee allegedly discovered several discrepancies related to admissions carried out under the RTE quota.
According to sources linked to the investigation, the committee found that admissions shown under the economically weaker section category in multiple private schools appeared suspicious. Several documents reportedly contained inconsistencies, raising concerns over the authenticity of beneficiary records and the legitimacy of the admission process itself.
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Fund Irregularities and Surrendered Allocations
The inquiry also reportedly revealed serious irregularities in the distribution of government funds allocated under the RTE scheme. Authorities suspect that money intended for poor children was not properly transferred to beneficiaries, while a significant portion of the allocated budget was allegedly surrendered back instead of being utilised for eligible students. This has raised questions over both transparency and accountability in the implementation of the welfare scheme.
Officials familiar with the matter said Amit Kumar Singh had remained associated with important administrative responsibilities within the Basic Education Department for several years and was considered influential within the system. Following the emergence of the allegations, departmental authorities had already suspended him. He is currently attached as headmaster at Veerpur Bariyar Primary School.
As the matter gained attention, district authorities reportedly began treating it not merely as a case of negligence but as a potential organised misuse of government resources linked to the education system. Investigators are now trying to determine whether the irregularities were limited to procedural lapses or whether a larger network was involved in manipulating admissions and diverting public funds.
Expert recommendations to prevent RTE fraud
Experts associated with the education sector say fraud within a sensitive welfare programme like RTE directly affects children from underprivileged backgrounds who depend on such schemes for access to quality education. They argue that misuse of reserved seats and government reimbursements undermines the very purpose of the Right to Education Act and deprives deserving students of opportunities guaranteed under law.
Education policy analysts have also called for stronger digital verification systems, Aadhaar-linked validation of student records and regular audits of private schools participating in the RTE programme. According to them, technology-driven monitoring could help reduce the possibility of fake admissions and financial manipulation in welfare schemes.
Police have now registered a criminal case under relevant sections and begun examining admission records, bank transactions and official documentation linked to the scheme. Authorities have stated that if the investigation uncovers the involvement of additional individuals or institutions, further legal action will follow. Officials believe the ongoing probe may lead to more revelations regarding the functioning of the RTE admission system in the district.
