The Maharashtra teacher recruitment scam is drawing serious attention after a Special Investigation Team (SIT) found that over 500 teachers were allegedly appointed using fraudulent methods via the Shalarth portal. The scam, involving fake Shalarth IDs, may have caused losses exceeding ₹100 crore.
What is Shalarth?
Shalarth is an official online portal run by the Maharashtra government. It manages payroll and service records of teaching staff employed at government and government-aided schools. Every employee receives a unique Shalarth ID, which is used to verify their identity and employment status.
According to the SIT, out of 622 appointments reviewed, only 75 teachers were recruited through legitimate procedures. The remaining 547 were reportedly appointed using forged documents and fake Shalarth IDs. Bribes ranging from ₹20 to ₹30 lakh were allegedly paid for each of these fraudulent appointments.
This makes the Maharashtra teacher recruitment scam not only one of the biggest in the state’s education sector but also a potential indicator of wider systemic issues in public sector hiring.
A senior police official stated, “The appointments were made using fake credentials. This illegal process could involve a sum greater than ₹100 crore.”
Authorities are working to trace the origin of these fake IDs and identify those involved in facilitating this widespread fraud. Disciplinary actions and legal proceedings are expected as the investigation progresses.
This incident raises serious questions about the safety and transparency of recruitment procedures in educational institutions and the misuse of digital systems like Shalarth.
📌 Source: Economic Times – Education
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