Retired Headmistress Jailed for Misappropriating School Funds in Odisha
In a landmark judgment against corruption in Odisha’s education sector, Smt. Prtavati Kumari Devi, a retired Headmistress and Secretary of SEC Sitapadi Project Upper Primary School (PUPS) in Baliguda Block, Kandhamal District, has been sentenced to four years of rigorous imprisonment.
The Special Judge, Vigilance, Phulbani, pronounced the verdict after a vigilance probe revealed that Devi failed to execute the construction of a school building despite receiving government funds, leading to significant financial irregularities.
She was charge‑sheeted under Section 13(2) read with 13(c)(d) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 and Section 409 of the Indian Penal Code for criminal breach of trust
Alongside the prison term, Devi has been fined Rs 50,000 and taken into immediate custody.
Authorities have also announced plans to approach the competent body to halt her pension benefits, ensuring accountability beyond her tenure.
The case underscores Odisha Vigilance’s intensified drive to curb corruption in public institutions and restore trust in governance.
