Deptts directed to hold verification of service records
SRINAGAR FEB 14: Waking up to financial losses, the Jammu and Kashmir government is initiating a verification process for the service records of employees to ensure there are no unjust benefits granted.
The Union Territory has around 4.5 lakh government employees and about 1.80 lakh pensioners. Sources indicate disparities in the records of several employees, with reports of some receiving unwarranted advantages over the years.
Taking serious note, the J & K administration has directed all departments, corporations and PSUs to conduct the verification of service records of employees.
A recent government order, a copy of which lies with Morning Kashmir, says that over the years the government has issued instructions to administrative secretaries, heads of departments and managing directors of PSUs and corporations. They have been directed to relieve surplus employees of PSUs and corporations deployed by the General Administration Department in their departments and offices three months prior to their retirement.
“All drawing and disbursing officers would undertake immediate verification of service books and records of these employees working in their departments, offices, PSUs, and corporations, to ascertain the correctness of their recorded dates of birth. In case of any corrections noted in respect of dates of birth of any employees, the matter should be reported to the General Administration Department within a period of 10 days from the date of issuance of the order,” the order reads.
“Further, excess salary drawn in respect of any such employee who overstays beyond the actual dates of superannuation should be recovered from the concerned Drawing and Disbursing Officers,” it says.
Besides the order says that lapses in this regard shall be the personal responsibility of the concerned drawing and disbursing officers, who would be liable for appropriate disciplinary action under the rules.
A source in the Accountant General Department said that officials have often noticed discrepancies in the records of pensioners.
Sources have revealed instances where numerous pensioners exceeded the permissible withdrawal amounts at the time of retirement. For instance, in one case, a pensioner withdrew Rs 70,000 more than allowed, resulting in a substantial loss to the state. “In certain situations, pensioners withdrew amounts less than what they were entitled to either by errors or deliberate mischief by officials,” sources said.
Earlier, the Account General had written to the Finance Department that “while verifying the pay fixation at the time of retirement, the accountant general effects recovery of the excess amount drawn by a retiree from pensionary benefits i.e, gratuity etc, which gives rise to increasing court cases and discontent among state government employees”.
