A vigilance team from Ranchi arrests Uma Shankar (centre) from the Jamshedpur school on Tuesday. Picture by Bhola Prasad

For once, we can proudly say complaint begets action in our Jharkhand.

A clerk of a government-run school in Jamshedpur was arrested on Tuesday for demanding bribe from a parent within a week of the matter being brought to the notice of the Vigilance Bureau in Ranchi.

Uma Shankar, an employee of Michael John Girls’ High School in Golmuri, was caught red-handed asking the father of a student to fork out cash for her matriculation marksheet and certificate and transfer certificate, which are supposed to be issued for free.

Sanjay Singh had first approached the clerk for his daughter’s credentials early last week.

“I was asked to pay Rs 200 for her marksheet and certificates. Initially, I thought it was a fixed charge for issuing the documents. Since I did not have that much cash on me, I offered Rs 100 and said I would tender the remaining amount later. But he refused to hand over the documents till I came back with Rs 200,” Singh, who is the manager of a private security agency in the steel city, said.

The clerk’s obstinacy raised the parent’s suspicions. He met an education department official from Seraikela-Kharsawan and asked him whether he needed to pay for his daughter’s matriculation credentials and transfer certificate.

“The official told me they were issued for free. I went back to the school and chided the clerk for demanding bribe. He became furious and dared me to do whatever I could. He even said I would not get my daughter’s marksheet unless I paid up,” Singh said.

Not to be deterred by threats, the doting father travelled 130km to Ranchi and filed a written complaint with additional director-general of police (ADGP), Vigilance Bureau, Neeraj Kumar Sinha on May 25.

On Tuesday morning, a team of five vigilance and police officers reached Jamshedpur. One of them in plainclothes accompanied Singh inside the school. When Uma Shankar once again pestered the parent for money, the full team appeared at the scene and arrested him.

“Clerk Uma Shankar has been arrested and will be prosecuted in accordance with the law,” confirmed a vigilance officer, not willing to be named.

Singh was later handed over his daughter’s marksheet and certificates.

Principal of the school R.P. Sinha, who is allegedly in the know of the corrupt practice, is out of station and could not be contacted for comments.

Saroj Lakra, a teacher of the school, said: “We do not know anything about bribe being demanded from students or their parents because it is summer vacation now. We are awaiting for the principal’s orders.”

District education officer, East Singhbhum, Ashok Kumar Sharma said the clerk would be suspended. “I came to learn of the incident this afternoon. He will first be suspended from duty and then departmental proceedings will be initiated against him,” Sharma added.