PANJIM: River Navigation Department (RND) has been overpaying a majority of its staff, who have failed to come under the radar of the auditors, despite confirmation of their absence during the audit.
The issue has been a regular affair in the department that allegedly does not hesitate to release the monthly salaries to its staff, despite absence from work for several days, in some cases even months, without intimation. Some have been on leave without sanction for their absence.
What is interesting is that although the recent audit exposes these irregularities, it has failed to quantify the total amount of overpayment. Sources, however, approximate the total amount to be Rs 50 lakh, as close to 130 sailors, coxswain and machinists are among the errant staffers being paid since May 2017.
Herald is in possession of the crucial documents and has also learnt that recovery of the amount from the absentee/deserted staff is barely undertaken.
“Several staffers are overpaid and recovery of the additional amount, if undertaken by the department, is a slow process. They are not penalised or levied interest on the principal amount. It is just like granting loan without
interest,” the source said, and added, “If there is no objection or complaint from anyone in this regard, the overpaid salaries are not recovered.”
In one instance, a sailor, who has not reported to work without informing the authority since March 28, 2019 has been drawing his monthly salary. Similarly, the financial audit of the accounts for the last three years, have revealed that several sailors and coxswain who are away from work for a continuous period of 1187 days, 126 days, 237 days, 101 days, 120 days, etc have received their monthly payments without regularisation of their absence.
“Monthly absentee statements are being submitted to AO/DDO through ACA regularly. However, time and again it has been brought to the notice of higher authorities that provisions of FR 17 (1) are not followed by DDO/AAO and monthly payments are being released without regularising the absence authority to overpayments,” reads a note circulated within the higher ups in the department, head of department (Captain of Ports) and the auditing team.
The alleged irregularity is taking place despite a memorandum dated December 11, 2012 stating that the salary of employees who are on unauthorised absence for more than two days will not be admitted on the pay roll for submission to the Accounts Department till the time it is regularised.
In a latest incident, a charge sheet was framed against a sailor who was paid Rs 7.73 lakh during his absence period from July 2017 to July 2019. This amount included bonus.
Herald’s calls to RND Minister Milind Naik went unanswered. RND officers also refused to come on record.
