Kaimur district magistrate Rajeshwar Prasad Singh on Sunday ordered that salaries of over 600employees for the month of February be withheld due to their failure to submit personal asset details within the stipulated timeframe, an administrative move unheard of in the state.

The district magistrate had, in a letter issued on January 2 to the drawing and disbursing officers, said that the January salary for employees would be released only if a detailed list was submitted by January 20.

The letter's secondary clause said February salaries would be released only when scanned and signed disclosures in PDF format on a compact disc was provided by February 20.

Of the total 3,700 public servants, only 2,700 filed their asset declaration statements by the aforementioned Januarydeadline.

On January 20, he reviewed the process. Irked over the officials' lackadaisical attitude, the district magistrate had ordered that the salaries of the 1,000 employees be withheld for the month of January.

He also said they would not receive their February pay check too, if they did not provide the necessary details, in a letter issued on the same dayto the officials.

"The number of erring employees came down to 600 on Saturday after a fresh warning was issued. Around 400 employees submitted their asset details," said Singh. "I've directed the drawing and disbursing officer not to release the salaries of those who did not comply with the order," he added.

Asked about the motive behind such a move, the district magistrate said it had been taken in order to inculcate a sense of discipline among district employees. "If they cannot carry out their personal responsibilities, how will they be responsible about their duties to the district?"

According to administrative procedures, Grade I, II and III employees must provide details about their services and properties every year.

After submission, the details of the employees are provided to the general administration department, which uploads them on to the official website.

The district magistrate said the employees' non-compliance is simply callous behaviour.

In the latest letter issued by Singh to the drawing and disbursing officers, the 600 erring employees have been reminded to provide the scanned and signed disclosures in PDF format on a compact disc by February 20.

The excise has been made mandatory for all the government employees in the state. A senior official of the general administration department said the practice came about in 2010 when chief minister Nitish Kumar had asked employees to declare their property every year.

Singh said administrative officials generally delayed the process. "This is why we have decided to be strict this time," he said.

He will review any progress made next week.