PRAYAGRAJ, Oct. 30 -- The higher education department has constituted a three-member committee to investigate complaints of alleged bribery and irregularities against an assistant posted at the Directorate of Higher Education and a lecturer serving at a government college in Kannauj. The committee will be headed by special secretary (higher education) Badrinath Singh, while joint secretary (higher education) Shakeel Ahmed Siddiqui and joint director (administration, higher education) Vandita Srivastava have been appointed as its members. The inquiry was ordered following a complaint lodged by Allahabad high court advocate AP Pandey, who accused the lecturer and the assistant of involvement in corrupt practices. Acting on the complaint, higher education minister Yogendra Upadhyay directed the department to conduct a detailed probe and submit a report within 15 days. According to the allegations, the lecturer was involved in large-scale financial dealings in exchange for facilitating permissions to fill vacant Class III posts in aided colleges, influencing appointments, and resolving various administrative matters related to colleges. The assistant, meanwhile, has been accused of collecting money for securing postings of commission-selected teachers, manipulating rosters related to sanctioned posts, and influencing the allocation of work among departmental officials and employees. The committee has been tasked with examining all allegations and submitting its findings to the government within the stipulated timeframe. HTC...