5 Jan 2015

Report details allegations against Fiji minister

4:44 pm on 5 January 2015

An 11-page report detailing allegations against Fiji's Education Minister has been put forward to the government.

The Fiji Times says the report details concerns with the Education Ministry and numerous allegations against the minister, Mahendra Reddy, which includes an allegation of bringing the government into disrepute.

The report by the ministry's former acting permanent secretary, Basundra Kumar, alleges breaches of civil service procedures, parochialism, cronyism and favouritism by Dr Reddy.

It also alleges Dr Reddy made unannounced changes to appointment criteria and minimum qualification requirements.

Ms Kumar says the minister started to make structural changes within the ministry without the government's approval, and that some school teachers' contracts were terminated without proper disciplinary process being followed.

Dr Reddy, who had earlier said he was fed up with issues raised by Ms Kumar, could not be reached by the Fiji Times for comment.