IT News
Imphal, Feb 13:
The clarification made by the Chief Engineer of the Rural Engineering Department, H. Santakumar, in connection with the news report published in this newspaper under the heading “Rural Engineering Dept Chief Engineer Issued Self-Cheques Amounting to Rs. 89.81 Lakh While Serving as Executive Engineer – Report” is misleading the public.
Imphal Times’ report is purely based on evidence and documents, and this newspaper possesses documents showing that the then Executive Engineer issued self-cheques.
Imphal Times published the news report based on the Inspection Report on the Accounts of the Executive Engineer, Programme Implementation Unit-II (PIU-II), RED/MSRRDA, Senapati, for the period from April 1, 2017, to March 31, 2020, conducted by the Office of the Principal Accountant General (Audit), Manipur, Imphal. (The documents of the inspection report are with Imphal Times.)
In his clarification regarding the news report, he stated that an Executive Engineer does not have the power to issue cheques. However, this appears misleading, as the inspection report states:
“Scrutiny of records of the Executive Engineer, PIU-II (MSRRDA), Senapati, revealed that a total of Rs. 1,68,03,982/- was drawn using 12 self-cheques or by authorizing officials from the work programme (PMGSY) during the period 2015-16 to 2019-20, which was subsequently paid in cash…”
According to an order issued by the Finance Department of the Government of Manipur dated March 13, 2008,
“The Governor of Manipur is pleased to order that payment through self-cheques by any department of the government is banned with immediate effect until further orders.”
(A copy of the order is with Imphal Times.)
Moreover, as per the Office Memorandum of the Ministry of Finance (vide No. 1(1)/2011/TA/292 dated March 31, 2012, and No. F. No. 3(2)(1)/2016/R&P Rules/Amendment/649 dated December 5, 2016) and earlier Office Memoranda, to achieve complete digitization of government payments, all Ministries/Departments of the Government of India are directed to make all payments above Rs. 5,000 to suppliers, contractors, grantee/loanee institutions, etc., through e-payment.
Imphal Times has merely reported on the violation of certain government rules regarding cheque issuance. Thus, we stand by our report.
