Concerned about the irregularities detected in the processing of pension payments for non-admissible cases across various treasuries in the Jammu Division, the Principal Accountant General’s office in Jammu and Kashmir has urgently urged the Finance Department to suspend pension revision payments related to six departments. These departments include Irrigation and Flood Control, Jal Shakti (PHE) Department, Power Development Department (PDD), PDC, R&B, Agriculture, and Headmasters/Zonal Education Officers (ZEOs) of the Education Department.
In a communication dated September 26, 2023, addressed to the Principal Secretary (Finance), Government of Jammu and Kashmir, the Principal Accountant General (A&E), Jammu and Kashmir, requested the Finance Department to instruct treasuries to stop payments on pension revision authorities dated up to and including September 22, 2023, for the mentioned departments.
The Principal Accountant General’s office has uncovered 32 unauthorized or irregular pension revision authorities across various treasuries in the Jammu Division. These unauthorized authorities were signed at different treasuries using forged dispatch numbers and Treasury Officers’ signatures, leading to an estimated loss of around Rs 2 crores to the State exchequer, as highlighted in a report by Excelsior dated October 1, 2023.
After internal investigations and discrepancies highlighted by Senior Accounts Officer Raja Jee Saproo, the Principal Accountant General J&K office has called upon Treasury Officers to cease payments on all forged authorities. For cases where payments have already been made, the office has requested steps to recover the amount from the beneficiaries’ bank accounts and revert to pre-revised pension payments.
Additionally, the Finance Department has been requested to issue instructions for authentication and verification of pension revision authorities by the Principal Accountant General Office before payments can proceed. The office has shared specimen signatures of its officers with the Secretary Finance to be distributed to Treasury Officers for scrutiny of pension/revision authorities.
These actions are part of efforts to rectify the irregularities and prevent further financial losses to the State exchequer. (Daily Excelsior)
