Imphal, March 15: Taking serious note of several Drawing and Disbursing Officers (DDOs) of Engineering Departments drawing funds from authorised bank in form of cheques drawn in favour of 'Self' and then retaining the funds either in form of Bankers' cheque/D-Calls or in DDO's account despite instructions of Finance Department to the contrary, the Government of Manipur has banned payment through 'Self' cheques by any of its department with effect from March 13. According to a reliable source, an order to this effect was issued on March 13 by Commissioner (Finance) RR Rashmi.

The order further made it clear that no Scheduled Bank conducting transaction on behalf of the Government shall honour and allow any payment against any cheque (excepting those that relate to salary payments and endorsed to this effect on the back of the cheque under the signature of the DDO) drawn in favour of Self or for deposit into any DDO account unless specifically permitted by the Finance Department.

No retention of fund other than for payment of salary in DDO's account is allowed, the order said, adding that failure to comply with this order shall be treated as cases of fraud and shall also be dealt with under the Manipur Public Servants' Personal Liability Act, 2006 & Rules and the other relevant provisions of law.

It may be recalled here that Finance Department via its order No.1/17/2000-FC dated 20-09-2001 had already placed a complete ban on holding of funds/money by the Department outside the Govt in the form of Bankers' cheques/D-at-Calls.

Furthermore, the Finance Dept emphasised in all cases of Cheque Drawal Authority that no part of the funds is to be kept in the form of Bankers' cheque or is to be deposited into the DDO account which is solely meant for transaction of salary payments only.

It is said that non-compliance of these instructions and drawals of funds in the form of 'Self' drawn cheques constitutes violation of Rules 3 and 4 of General Financial Rules and gives rise to several other malpractices leading to loss of Government money.

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