Orissa Transport Minister in false affidavit row

[karira]

As reported by Kalinga Times Correspondent in kalingatimes.com on 26 April 2008:
KalingaTimes.com: Orissa Transport Minister in false affidavit row

Orissa Transport Minister in false affidavit row

Sambalpur (Orissa), April 26: Yet another Orissa minister has been found to have filed false affidavit adding to the woes of the ruling Biju Janata Dal-Bharatiya Janata Party coalition.

State Transport and Commerce Minister Jayanarayan Mishra, who belongs to the BJP, has been found guilty of providing false information about his educational qualification while filing nomination in the 2004 Assembly polls.

Information gathered under Right to Information (RTI) Act has revealed that contrary to the information filed in an affidavit, Mishra has not passed his Bachelors Degree.

Allegations over the issue was first made by Sambalpur Bikash Manch (SBM) and to substantiate its allegation it sought information under RTI.
Although information obtained under RTI has proved the allegation correct, the Minister remains unfazed and said that he would prove his point in the right forum.

In the affidavit Mishra had declared that he had passed his graduation examination from Burla NAC College under Sambalpur University in 1984.

But information provided by the PIO cum Principal of Burla NAC College on application under RTI by Convenor of SBM Debasis Purohit has said the minister completed his Intermediate in Arts (IA) during the period 1981-83.

It has further said that although Mishra pursued his Bachelors Degree (BA) in the year 1984 to 1986 with History and Political Science it was unaware about the Minister completing his Degree.

However, the college has also said that it was not in a position to provide any information about passing of BA by Mishra as records relating to the same is no more available in the college.

However, in his affidavit submitted with the nomination papers, Mishra has informed that he has passed completed his graduation from Burla NAC College in 1984. But the question remains is how could he complete his graduation a year after passing IA as it requires two years of attending college before being allowed to appear for the BA examination.

Meanwhile, the issue has provided fodder for the State Youth Congress President Rohit Pujari, an aspirant for Sambalpur Lok Sabha seat.

In a statement to the media, Pujari has demanded resignation of Mishra and urged the Election Commission to initiate action against the Minister.

A similar incident had occurred earlier when Minister of State for Labour Pradipta Kumar Naik had quit his post allegedly filing an affidavit giving wrong information. A case was also registered against him in this connection. Naik, however, had later come out clean.

[karira]

As reported in newindpress.com on 29 May 2008:
Info on Minister’s education sought - Newindpress.com

Info on Minister's education sought

SAMBALPUR: Sambalpur Sub-Collector Kailash Chandra Sahu probing false affidavit row against State Transport and Commerce Minister Jayanarayan Mishra has moved Sambalpur University seeking information on the Minister�s educational qualification.

The move came after Burla NAC College, where the Minister had reportedly completed his degree, failed to provide any information citing non-availability of records.

The Sub-Collector has now directed the University Registrar to submit relevant information pertaining to the Minister�s education in seven days. Mishra in his affidavit filed along with his nomination in the 2004 Assembly polls had mentioned that he had completed his degree in 1984 from Burla NAC College.

However, information sought under RTI Act by one Debasis Purohit, revealed that the Minister had not passed his degree examination. Documents made available by the Burla NAC College mentioned that the Minister had studied and passed his Intermediate during 1981-83 from the college.

While, it was said that Mishra pursued his Bachelors Degree (BA) from 1984 to 1986 with History and Political Science as subjects, the college authorities could not provide any documents supporting the statements.

They could not even provide Mishra�s university registration number which is mandatory.

[karira]

As reported by ENS in newindpress.com on 15 June 2008:
Probe finds Minister not a graduate - Newindpress.com

Probe finds Minister not a graduate



SAMBALPUR: It's official. State Transport and Commerce Minister Jayanarayan Mishra has not passed his degree examination in 1984 contrary to his claim in his affidavit filed along with his nomination papers during the 2004 Assembly polls.

Sambalpur Sub-Collector and Election Officer Kailash Sahu, who probed the issue, found the Minister's claim to be false. He submitted his report to District Collector P.K. Patnaik. This has triggered speculation about Mishra's continuation in the Ministry.

The official probe report is based on information supplied by Sambalpur University, after Burla NAC College, from where Mishra had claimed to have passed graduation, failed to furnish any details citing unavailability of records.

The university authorities clarified that none by the name of Jayanarayan Mishra had appeared for the degree examination from NAC Burla College under Sambalpur University.

It remains an enigma whether the Minister has passed his graduation at all or not.While the Burla NAC College had all details of Mishra studying Intermediate Arts (IA), it does not have record of the later period to support Mishra's claim.

While a section of lawyers are of the opinion that Mishra should be tried for contempt of court as it is a crime to swear false affidavit, all eyes are now on Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik and whether he will axe Mishra.

The issue had been taken up by the Sambalpur Bikas Manch which, based on information obtained through RTI, contested Mishra's claim of being a graduate.

[jps50]

This is power of RTI!