Vacant posts in MC accounts dept trigger union’s outcry, CM Mann urged to act
The Municipal Employees Union Phagwara convened an emergency meeting under the chairmanship of its vice-president, Narendra Dutt Sharma, to express strong resentment over the continued failure to make permanent appointments to crucial finance posts in the Phagwara Municipal Corporation. The union warned that the prolonged administrative vacuum in the accounts branch is severely affecting pension disbursements, employee salaries and ongoing development works in the city.
Addressing mediapersons after the meeting, Sharma stated that the Municipal Corporation has neither appointed a permanent Deputy Controller Finance and Accounts (DCFA) nor a full-time accountant, leading to serious operational bottlenecks. He pointed out that the entire financial functioning of the corporation is dependent on the signatures of the DCFA, who reportedly attends office only once a week. “How can the entire financial workload of a municipal body be cleared in a single day?” he questioned, adding that even the accountant is available only two days a week and there is no clerk posted in the accounts branch.
The union highlighted that despite the Dearness Allowance (DA) instalment being credited to the Corporation’s account on the first of every month, pensioners continue to face delays of over a month in receiving their dues. Fixed monthly medical reimbursements of Rs 1,000 are also not being released on time, causing financial strain for retired employees. Furthermore, cheques for Leave Travel Concession (LTC), due since January, have yet to be issued.
The union members present at the meeting collectively urged the Punjab Government and Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann to intervene immediately and ensure the priority-based appointment of a permanent DCFA and accountant in the accounts branch. They maintained that timely financial management is essential for maintaining institutional credibility, ensuring employee welfare and accelerating development works in Phagwara.
