Patna, May 13: Some circle officers will go to any length to show 100 per cent revenue collection. Sample this. They actually deprived a dozen revenue karmacharis in West Champaran district of their pay for six months and deposited the same as revenue.
The circle officers in Ram Nagar and Piprasi blocks were allegedly acting on the directive of seniors, who were told by the department concerned to achieve 100 per cent revenue collection from their respective districts. The juniors were being punished for failing to meet the target for financial year 2012-13.
Strangely, the deducted salary was deposited in government accounts through challans that showed it to be revenue collected from the two blocks on March 30. A sum of Rs 8 lakh was withdrawn from salaries in Ram Nagar block alone.
Some of the victims approached the Bihar state human rights commission (BHRC) only recently, seeking its intervention as it amounted to violation of human rights. They said they were on the brink of starvation and were finding it difficult to sustain their families due to non-payment of salary.
The commission on Monday directed the West Champaran district magistrate to conduct a through inquiry into the allegations made by the revenue and land reforms department employees.
The magistrate will probe whether the salary of revenue karmcharis was deposited in government accounts and if so by whose order. The commission sought to know whether any circular or rules permitted any official to issue such an arbitrary order.
It also wanted to know why the officials chose to deprive pay of erring employees instead of taking other disciplinary action. It also asked the district magistrate what action was taken against the circle officers for their arbitrary order.
Former DGP and member, BHRC, Neelmani, who is dealing with the complaint, said, “The district magistrate of West Champaran has been asked to appear before the commission on June 11 along with a report on the five points mentioned in the order.”
He said copies of the commission’s directive have been provided to the Tirhut divisional commissioner, Muzaffarpur, and the principal secretary of the revenue and land reforms department. “I have also not heard of such an arbitrary order being passed by any government official during my service as a police officer,” said Neelmani, who retired as the state police chief in July 2011.
Principal secretary, revenue and land reforms department, C Ashok Vardhan, expressed surprise. “I have no information about any such action. But if it is true, then it should be construed as illegal,” he said. Till filing of report he had not received any order from the state human rights commission.
West Champaran district magistrate S. Chiruvelu said, “I can’t make any comment as I am out of the state.” An additional collector posted at the district headquarters town of West Champaran said the deducted money was first deposited into the accounts of the circle officers of Ram Nagar and Piprasi blocks and subsequently in the government accounts.
Circle officer of Ram Nagar block, Ajay Kumar declined comment. “I will send my reply to the commission (BSHRC) through my advocate. I am not accountable to give any explanation to the media,” he said.
He, however, admitted that the salary of revenue karmcharis under his jurisdiction was deducted for their callous attitude. “They were warned of stern action. But they didn’t pay heed to the warning,” he said. A circle officer under cover of anonymity said that the action was taken on the directive of the sub-divisional officer concerned.
