category Regional, chandigarh, , tags Regional, chandigarh, , DW BUREAU Chandigarh The Punjab Vigilance Bureau (VB), during its vigorous campaign against corruption in the state, has unearthed a big scam in the Punjab State Pharmacy Council (PSPC) and apprehended two former Registrars and one Superintendent for their involvement in committing severe irregularities related to the registration and issuance of certificates to Pharmacists, allegedly in collaboration with privately owned pharmacy institutions. Disclosing this here today a spokesperson of the state VB said, the arrested individuals are Parveen Kumar Bhardwaj, Dr. Tejbir Singh (both former Registrars), and Ashok Kumar Accountant (presently Superintendent), following their implication in a vigilance enquiry no. 04 2019. He added that Parveen Kumar Bhardwaj served as Registrar of PSPC on various occasions from 2001 to 2009 and from 24.12.2013 to 25.3.2015, while Dr. Tejbir Singh held the position from 23.8.2013 to 24.12.2013. Ashok Kumar, Accountant, was also involved, according to the findings of the vigilance enquiry. He further informed that the investigation revealed crucial oversights in the verification process during the registration of Pharmacists. Investigations led to the discovery of numerous fake D-Pharmacy certificates during routine inspections. It became evident that stringent protocols and mandated educational qualifications were disregarded by the accused Registrars and officials during the admission process for D-Pharmacy courses across 105 pharmacy colleges in the Punjab. The Punjab State Technical Education Board, responsible for conducting online counseling for admissions in state government colleges, encountered persistent vacancies in private institutions. To fill these seats, private colleges allegedly admitted students from other states in connivance with the said Registrars and officials of PSPC without obtaining mandatory migration certificates, accepting significant bribes from unsuspecting candidates. Moreover, several students gained admission to the D-pharmacy course by possessing the requisite 10 2 educational qualifications in medical or non-medical streams privately whereas it has to be passed regularly and by attending science practical. The spokesperson informed that during the probe it has came to light that the officials and employees of the Punjab State Pharmacy Council (PSPC) collaborated with privately owned pharmacy colleges, allowing admissions without mandatory migration certificates and without verifying the 10 2 certificates, all in exchange for substantial bribes. Furthermore, discrepancies emerged regarding the approval and registration process of certificates issued by education boards accredited by the Council of Boards of School Education in India (COBSE). The PSPC officials, in collusion with principals and organizers of private colleges, facilitated the registration of candidates from these boards, allowing them to secure employment in various departments and establish medical shops on the basis of such fake certificates. Revealing more he further added that accused Parveen Kumar Bhardwaj s services were terminated on 31.3.2011 for malpractice related to fake admissions, counterfeit certificates, record manipulation, and omission from the dispatch register. However, he was later reappointed as Registrar on 24.12.2013, albeit canceled due to a High Court writ petition on 25.3.2015. He further added that verification process conducted by the Director, Medical Education and Research (DRME), and Medical Colleges in Amritsar, Faridkot, and Patiala uncovered substantial irregularities in admissions and PSPC s registration procedures. (editor dailyworld.in)