The office of the State Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities has found that at least 18 teachers of Chintamani taluk in Chickballapur district have been claiming disability benefits, though they are not eligible. These cases have now been referred to the State-level appellate authority.
K.V. Rajanna, State Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities, told reporters here on Friday that his office had received an anonymous complaint against 45 teachers in Chintamani, who were reportedly claiming disability benefits, though they are not disabled.
After physical examination and verification of their medical records on June 5, for which 42 teachers appeared before the Deputy Commissioner — one teacher had passed away, one was transferred and one was absent; the commission found that 18 teachers were claiming benefits, though they were ineligible.
“As many as 11 teachers did not have any perceivable disability. Seven teachers, who were appointed under general quota, claimed to have developed disabilities. After producing fake medical certificates, they were claiming disability benefits, for more than 10 years,” he said.
He said that the medical certificates were not from the competent medical board.
A case had been registered in connection with the Chintamani incident.
He said that the teachers association in Chintamani had brought to his notice the case of three teachers who developed some disability during service. However, after this, the education department had stopped paying their wage.
V. Subramanya lost vision three years ago, Devaraj suffered a paralytic stroke one-and-half years ago, and Amarnath developed mental illness a year ago.
