M K Kaw
Early Times Report
Jammu, Aug 2: In a major administrative move, authorities have directed all Heads of Departments (HoDs) in Jammu district to recover an excess amount of Rs 4.58 crore that was paid to government employees deployed during the 2018 Panchayat and Urban Local Bodies (ULB) elections. The action follows revelations made during an audit by the Audit Party of the Principal Accountant General (Audit), Jammu and Kashmir.
As per Government Order No. 1789-GAD of 2018 dated December 21, 2018, employees from various government departments were deployed for election-related duties during the Municipal and Panchayat polls held across the Union Territory. The order sanctioned the payment of one-month additional salary, wages, or remuneration as a one-time incentive for employees assigned to the conduct of elections.
However, the audit found that many of these employees had claimed additional allowances—such as House Rent Allowance (HRA), Deputation Allo To combat cybercrime in a comprehensive and coordinated manner, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has undertaken several initiatives.
In response, authorities have now issued strict instructions to all HoDs to immediately recover the overpaid amounts, including HRA and any other inadmissible allowances. Each department has been tasked with identifying the concerned employees and initiating recovery proceedings without delay.
Furthermore, all HoDs have been directed to submit a compliance report, detailing the recovery actions taken and the status of amount recouped.
The move underscores the administration's emphasis on maintaining financial discipline and ensuring accountability in the disbursement of public funds. Officials have warned that any lapse in compliance will be viewed seriously and may invite further administrative scrutiny. | 