Salary ‘scam’: Parliament panel asks UT to submit periodic reports
The Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee’s report on the “Audit of Pay and Allowances in the Chandigarh Police Department” has recommended that the UT Administration must submit periodic report on the recovery progress and investigation findings. The audit had found inappropriate payments totalling Rs 1.60 crore, including pay, allowances, LTC and other benefits, made to police personnel during 2017-2020.
The committee’s report was presented in the Lok Sabha today.
It observed significant discrepancies in the disbursement of funds within the department, particularly regarding inadmissible payments of Rs 1.60 crore made to police personnel due to deficiencies in internal and IT controls. In light of the ongoing recovery efforts, the committee has recommended that the Chandigarh Administration prioritise the swift recovery of the remaining Rs 20.93 lakh as on 06/2024. It has also stressed the importance of establishing clear accountability of all drawing and disbursing officers (DDOs) involved in these payments. Such measures should be based on the outcomes of the ongoing investigation.
The committee has urged the implementation of internal control measures, including enhanced IT controls and comprehensive training programmes for officials involved in financial management, to prevent discrepancies. It has sought periodic reports on recovery progress and investigation outcome until all issues are resolved.
The committee has found that there were significant irregularities due to deficiencies in internal controls and IT systems, compounded by negligence on part of the DDOs.
A case was registered at the Sector 3 police station in February 2020, which is under investigation by the crime branch. Officials responsible for preparing such bills of inadmissible payments were suspended and 13 arrested so far. Regular departmental inquires have been initiated against other delinquent officials to ascertain their role in the entire embezzlement. Sources said the accountability of the DDOs could only be ascertained upon the outcome of the investigation.
