Some officers likely to face music
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, December 10 2013:
The State Government has decided to take up a case under the Manipur Public Servant Personal Liability Act for releasing over Rs 35 lakh by Agriculture Department at a time when the Government held back all kinds of funds except for salaries and pensions last year in view of the State's sick financial condition.
The amount was withdrawn after it was sanctioned by District Agriculture Officers and passed by Treasury officers during the tenure of former Director L Palendro.
This was discovered during investigation by the State Vigilance Commission, informed a source.
Director Palendro allegedly sanctioned the amount after dividing into smaller amounts against relevant rules.
Apart from the Government's restrictions on sanctioning funds, office expenditure fund cannot cross Rs one lakh in a year.
Bills for the fund sanctioned by the Director were prepared by DAOs and the bills were passed by concerned Treasury Offices overlooking Government's ban on releasing funds.
In the name of office expenditure DDO Kharungpat released Rs 4.9 lakh, DDO Wangbal Rs 4.9 lakh, DDO Thoubal Rs 4 lakh, DAO Tamenglong Rs 6.32, DAO Ukhrul Rs 1.5 lakh and DAO Bishnupur Rs 1.5 lakh.
In addition, some more amounts were also sanctioned.
As for Rs 80,000 withdrawn by DAO Bishnupur and District Training Officer (Head office), the amount has been returned to the Government after re-drawing a challan.
For the amount withdrawn violating Government's restriction, the Vigilance Commission has recommended a departmental enquiry and also to recover the particular amount under the Manipur Public Servant Personal Liability Act.
It has also recommended the Government to terminate the service of one Md Jahiruddin who joined as Government Primary Teacher under Die-in-Harness scheme using a forged convey letter of the Education Director.