In a written reply to a question raised by legislator Subhashini Jena during the Odisha Assembly session, the School and Mass Education Minister Nityananda Gond revealed that 424 teachers across the state have been suspended for securing jobs using fake educational certificates.
The School and Mass Education Department took disciplinary action after verifying the authenticity of the documents submitted by the accused teachers. Among the districts, Balasore recorded the highest number of dismissals, with 16 teachers removed from service for certificate fraud.
This revelation has sparked widespread concern about the recruitment process and the integrity of educational institutions. Authorities are now under pressure to strengthen verification mechanisms and ensure transparency in hiring.