The closed office of sub-treasury officer Sheela Pratima Kuzur in Patna City. Picture by Sachin

A government official’s maternity leave has sent hundreds into a tizzy, as the person happens to be the sub-treasury officer responsible for disbursing salaries of government employees.

The sub-treasury officer, Sheela Pratima Kuzur, went on a maternity leave on April 16. In her absence, disbursement of salary for March and a few pending salaries of February have come to a grinding halt.

Sub-divisional officer of Patna City Raman Kumar Sinha said district magistrate Sanjay Kumar Singh is the authorised person to depute a replacement for Kuzur. But Singh has not done so till now.

When contacted, the district magistrate said: “Things will be streamlined in a day or two. We will get a person in her (Kuzur’s) place so that salaries can be disbursed as soon as possible.”

According to the rulebook, an officer of her rank is supposed to inform the district magistrate at least a month ahead of taking the leave. However, cases may vary according to the exigency.

Sources said the sub-treasury office in Patna City is responsible for salary disbursement of all the government offices and schools in Patna City, Fatuha and Daniyawa blocks.

Since Kuzur has not been replaced with anyone, the teachers of the schools located in Patna City, Fatuha and Daniyawa blocks are finding it difficult to cope with the no-salary onslaught that has struck them all of a sudden.

Vijay Sharan, a teacher with Rajkiyakrit Uchchya Vidyalay in Patna City, said: “School teachers’ salary payment for March did not get clearance from the sub-treasury office. We hope the bills get cleared soon. Many of us have been making the rounds of the sub-treasury office but we were surprised to know that the sub-treasury officer has gone on a leave. No one has replaced her.”

The bolt from the blue was even worse for the Grade IV employees of the school. Alok Kumar, a peon with Rajkiyakrit, said: “I have to pay the tuition fees of my two children every month. I don’t know from where will I pay the fees. Now, I will have to borrow money from someone.”

Harihar Prasad, a teacher with Siyarampur High School, Sahpur, said: “I am yet to get the salary for February. Moreover, the March dues were yet to get clearance from the treasury office. I live in a rented house for which I have to pay Rs 4,000 every month. Now, I am living at the mercy of my house owner.”

The present crisis is contradictory to chief minister Nitish Kumar’s recent claims at Areraj in East Champaran on April 23 that the government would take stern action against those found responsible for the delay in disbursing payments to teachers and other government employees.