Suresh Unnithan
When the nation is in facing fiscal distrust it seems officials in Prasar Bharati, have no worries in overspending by way of “excess payments”. The Principal Director of Audit, Jaipur in a recent audit has exposed an excess spending of over 291.43 lakh by the Prasar Bharati Jaipur offices alone.
The audit report signed by Director, PDA Central, Branch Office, Jaipur says “The audit observed in test-check of records under Prasar Bharati,Jaipur Offices that excess payment of Rs 291.43 lakh up to for the period from September 2008 to March 2020 on account of pay & allowances was made to 79 officials of DDK, Jaipur and AIR, Jaipur, AIR,CBS, Jaipur, and AIR,CCW, Jaipur due to granting of 4th MACP and counted that as 3ed MACP and/or granting MACP benefit prior to the due dates.”
The detailed audit report signed by Director, PDA was sent to the Director General Doordarshan on 20.9.2021 detailing the names of the 79 beneficiaries of the excess payments.
On 07/12/2021, Director (Engineering) Doordarshan Kendra Jaipur wrote a letter to the Director General Doordarshan seeking “necessary guidelines” on the “re-fixation and recovery of excess payment.” In the letter the director apprehends that “sometimes it is not possible to recover huge amount from retired/retiring employees.”
Copy of the relevant parts of the audit report is reproduced below:
