Facing saffron heat, NCERT chief quits
10 Oct 2014 5:36 AM IST
Call it the Dina Nath Batra effect maybe, but the National Council for Education Research and Training’s (NCERT) curriculum framing body chief Professor Parvin Sinclair has been ‘sacked’ following a complaint against the academician by Batra for initiating review of NCERT books during the UPA regime.
Sources in the HRD ministry averred that Sinclair has resigned after the NDA government instituted a high-level probe against her for alleged procedural lapses in the purchase of text paper and pulp board meant for school textbooks amounting to about Rs 50 crore. Sources added NCERT officials had filed a complaint in Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) against Sinclair for violating organisations procurement norms by issuing purchase order (PO) of text paper and pulp board without tasting the quality of the papers. Apart from this, RSS member Dina Nath Batra has accused the NCERT of starting curriculum revision in a hurry without seeking directions of the new government. Sinclair’s resignation, if accepted, could also bring these expert panels under scanner and the process could start afresh.
Sinclair, a mathematician and educationist, was appointed as the NCERT director in January 2012, by the then HRD minister Kapil Sibal under the UPA-II government. Sources at the HRD ministry confirmed the minister had received Sinclair’s resignation letter, but there is no confirmation about ministry accepting of her papers.
Sources in the HRD ministry averred that Sinclair has resigned after the NDA government instituted a high-level probe against her for alleged procedural lapses in the purchase of text paper and pulp board meant for school textbooks amounting to about Rs 50 crore. Sources added NCERT officials had filed a complaint in Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) against Sinclair for violating organisations procurement norms by issuing purchase order (PO) of text paper and pulp board without tasting the quality of the papers. Apart from this, RSS member Dina Nath Batra has accused the NCERT of starting curriculum revision in a hurry without seeking directions of the new government. Sinclair’s resignation, if accepted, could also bring these expert panels under scanner and the process could start afresh.
Sinclair, a mathematician and educationist, was appointed as the NCERT director in January 2012, by the then HRD minister Kapil Sibal under the UPA-II government. Sources at the HRD ministry confirmed the minister had received Sinclair’s resignation letter, but there is no confirmation about ministry accepting of her papers.
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