Team Herald
PANJIM: The Goa Human Rights Commission (GHRC) has recommended to the Director of Skill Development Entrepreneurship to pursue the matter with the Finance Department for refund of over Rs 1.79 lakh to a retired group instructor of Industrial Training Institute (ITI).
The Commission stated that that the copy of the inquiry report be sent to the Director of Skill Development Entrepreneurship calling for his comments including the action taken or proposed to be taken within a period of 60 days or on or before January 9, 2023, in terms of Section 18 (e) of the Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993.
Former ITI, Bicholim group instructor Stephen Coutinho had filed his complaint dated January 7, 2022, praying for refund of Rs 1,79,959 after his retirement on superannuation on June 30, 2016.
The respondent in his reply stated that the pension case of the complainant had been submitted to the pension section of the Directorate of Accounts by a letter dated December 29, 2015 and it was returned by the Directorate of Accounts with certain observations and accordingly the pay fixation statement in the Sixth Pay Commission in ACPS and in MACPS-III were revised. As per due and drawn statement with effect from January 1, 2006 to June 30, 2016, the recovery of excess amount worked out to Rs 1,79,959. Accordingly, the respondent authorised the Directorate of Accounts to recover the said amount from Coutinho’s retirement gratuity.
Thereafter, the complainant’s representation dated November 25, 2019, for refund of the amount recovered was placed before the government for its approval and concurrence of Finance (R&C) Department on November 19, 2020. But the latter returned the proposal to the respondent to indicate the reasons for the errors, which resulted in overpayment. The file was thereafter resubmitted to the Finance (R&C) Department with due clarification of the cases. However, the Finance Department instructed to fix responsibility on the officials responsible for the overpayment and recover the amount from them.
The respondent also stated that upon instructions of Finance (R&C) Department, efforts were made to locate the file wherein the cases of the complainant and two others were processed in order to fix responsibility on the officials concerned.
