Nivedita P Haran stalls govt order on paying Rs 6.27 cr to temporary motor transport workers.
Nivedita P Haran
Thiruvananthapuram: Additional Chief Secretary Nivedita P Haran has asked Kerala Motor Transport Workers Welfare Fund Board to keep in abeyance an order, sanctioned by the Council of Ministers, ratifying Rs 6.27 crore paid to temporary hands at the Board from 2005 to 2011.
The additional chief secretary’s direction, virtually overruling the Cabinet decision, was issued by Labour joint secretary Satyakumar S to the CEO of Kerala Motor Transport Workers Welfare Fund Board, on January 24:
“I am directed to inform you that since this is a major case requiring financial examination, Finance Department consultation is in progress. The Government order referred above may not be implemented until further orders”.
“The Government order referred above” was also issued by the same officer - joint secretary Satyakumar S on December 12, ratifying the wages ('6.27 crore) paid to temporary hands for nearly 6 years, including during the tenure of former Labour Minister P K Gurudasan.
The issue at stake is wages paid by the Board CEO to temporary employees associated with the collection of vehicle owners’ contribution to the welfare fund, which has deposits of '1,600 crore.
Recruiting temporary hands is resorted to by successive ministries to tide over the perennial staff shortage at the Board.
The main source of revenue is the contribution made to the Fund by those who purchase vehicles, valued at Rs 10 lakh and above.
But the Fund has been dogged by staff shortage and the Board’s requests for regular hands have been opposed by the Finance Department because of the long-term financial implications.
Sources say Dr Nivedita Haran’s action is unprecedented and is an affront to the collective wisdom of the Cabinet that reflects ground realities involving workers and their salaries.
The Finance Department had several times objected to the ratification of the CEO’s payment but the Cabinet considered it subsequently and lent its imprimatur.
“The phenomenon of temporary recruitment and ad hoc payments merit a debate but the Additional Chief Secretary has no powers to ask a lower- level authority not to implement an order issued in pursuance of the Cabinet decision”, said a senior officer, adding that the ACS could have taken it up with the Minister concerned.
Read this with a reminder from the Chief Secretary dated November 8, 2013: “Orders are to be issued on the decisions taken in the meetings of the Council of Ministers within 48 hours of the time of receipt of proceedings.
“Instances have come to the notice where there has been inordinate delay in implementing the Council decisions...Issue of order is not enough but it should be followed up till the implementation is complete”.
( Source : dc )
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