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| PSC `parasites' feed on examination fee | | FD directive observed in breach | |
Early Times Report
Jammu, Sept 16: Even as unemployment continues to be a major problem in the Jammu Kashmir, the people hired by the Public Service Commission for conducting various examinations make a good buck from the examination fee deposited by desperate candidates.
According to New Delhi based newspaper Rs 21.54 lakhs have been withdrawn from `Examination Revolving Fund' (ERF) for remuneration, refreshment, honorarium and special incentives for experts , paper setters , evaluators etc.
The amount was withdrawn from the ERF on the basis of commission order no. 448-PSC of 2006 dated December 8, 2006. The order had fixed remuneration charges for working beyond office hours and on holidays at Rs 30/60/100 for pay up to Rs 5,000 and Rs 45/90/150 for pay above Rs 5,000 and another Commission order of 2010 by virtue of which the rates have been revised to Rs 90/150/225.
Pertinent to mention the ERF is constituted from the fee deposited by candidates for appearing in various examinations. The ERF has currently inflated to Rs 6-7 crores.
The accounts branch of the Commission has also confirmed that an amount of Rs 21,45,000 has been drawn from the ERF over a period of three years in a manner totally repugnant to rules and financial propriety.
The state government has directed the chairman, PSC to refer the matter to the Finance Department for regularization of the expenditure already made. He has been further directed to get the matter probed by an independent agency and stop all payments in the shape of honorarium, refreshment charges, remuneration and special incentive to the employees of the Commission out of ERF.
Normally, expenditure of this nature is debited from office expenses as per the Jammu & Kashmir Book of Financial Powers and the rates are revised by the Government from time to time. According to the latest Government order dated June 5, 2012, the rates have been fixed at Rs 225/135/65 with the ceiling of Rs 7,500/- per employee per year.
It has been reliably learnt that an amount of Rs 1 lakh per month was withdrawn from the ERF and the booty was mainly shared by a small group with the Ex Secretary M.A.Bukhari IAS having taken more than Rs 1.4 lakh and the ex Under Secretary Mushtaq Ahmad Bhat, and now consultant, more than Rs 1.10 lakh, over a period of about three years. Interestingly the consultant namely Hakeem Gh Jeelani too has been paid an amount of Rs 55,039 as remuneration and it remains to be seen if he was at all entitled to any amount beyond his terms of engagement.
The Finance Department has categorically laid down that the PSC must seek permission from the finance department for operation of Examination Revolving Fund for meeting such like expenditures for which regular budgetary allocations are made,
However, sources said the directive of the Finance Department has been observed more in breach by the PSC. |
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