H & FW DDO rendered powerless :: Director keeps his close aide as DDO
Source: Hueiyen News Service
Imphal, February 04 2014:
In an apparent lack of authority to monitor the conduct of State Government officials, the Director of Health & Family Welfare Department (H&FWD) has dumped all Government Orders by not transferring the official powers and duties to the newly appointed Head of Office (HoO) & Drawing and Disbursing Officer (DDO) of the Department.
According to a highly placed source, the Secretariat of H&FWD issued an order on October 22 last year for appointment of Dr Th Arunkumar Singh as Deputy Director/HoO & DDO of Directorate of Family Welfare in place of Dr B Tarunkumar Sharma with immediate effect.
However, the said order was not respected by the Director and former DDO of Family Welfare.
Upon this, the Secretariat of H & FWD wrote a letter to the Director of Family Welfare on January 27 this year on the matter of handing over/taking over of charge of DDO/HoO.
It was stated in the letter that there is a standing Office Memorandum issued by the Vigilance Department vide No.1/38/82-DV dated July 26, 1982 to relieve all persons who are going to retire within six months or less from the duties of DDO.
As Dr B Tarunkumar is due to retire on February 28 this month, the Director was advised to direct Dr Tarunkumar to handover the charge of DDO to Dr Arunkumar immediately.
The Government Order dated October 22, 2013 also clearly mentioned that Dr Tarunkumar would continue to work as Deputy Director, but without the power of HoO/DDO.
The DDO is the official who is in-charge of all financial dealings of the Department.
Despite several Government orders and letters, the relegated officer, being a close aide of Director Dr Okram Ibomcha, continues to act as the HoO/DDO handling cash books and other key financial matters of the Department.
Aggrieved with the conduct of the Director of Family Welfare, Dr Arunkumar self-assumed the charge of HoO & DDO on February 1 this month after informing the Minister concerned and other higher officials of the State Government.
However, the self-assumed DDO Dr Arunkumar is yet to receive all files and documents from the relegated Deputy Director Dr Tarunkumar who is due to retire on February 28 this month, the source added.