Non observance of Rule 106 and 107 of P & T Manual Volume III and Directorate letter No. C- 32016/07/2006-VP dated 14.11.2006 while imposing penalty of recovery on SBCO staff

ALL INDIA SAVINGS BANK CONTROL EMPLOYEES UNION
(Service union under Dept. of Posts)
CHQ UNION WEBSITE: http://www.aisbceu.blogspot.in/
[HQ-NO: B-105, JAY DWARAKA CHS LTD, NEW AYARE ROAD, DOMBIVALI [E], DT, THANE-421201
MAHARASTHRA  CIRCLE]
R. K. TANDON       
PRESIDENT
O/O CPMG, U.P.CIRCLE
LUCKNOW-226001
CELL: 09415025900, 09616500831         
Email: rakeshshobha@gmail.com
P.A.MHATRE
GENERAL SECRETARY
SUPERVISOR, SBCO
MUMBAI CENTRAL HO-400008
CELL: 09819188067
Email: prakashamhatre@gmail.com
K.R.DESHMUKH
TREASURER
SBCO, AKOLA HO-444001
MAHARASTHRA CIRCLE
CELL: 8485812990

No : AISBCEU/CHQ/Imposing penalty recovery2016-17/100        Dated 05.03.2017

To,
Shri B. V. Sudhakar Sir,
Secretary (posts)
Department of Posts,
Dak Bhavan, Sansad Marg
New Delhi 110 001.

Sub : Non observance of Rule 106 and 107 of P & T Manual Volume III and Directorate letter No. 
         No. C- 32016/07/2006-VP dated 14.11.2006 while imposing penalty of recovery on SBCO staff

Respected Sir,
            This is regarding non observance of Rule 106 and 107 of P & T Manual Volume III and Directorate letter No. C-32016/07/2006-VP dated 14.11.2006 while imposing penalty of recovery in fraud cases on SBCO staff.

            It is a fact that there is acute shortage of staff in all SBCO sections in all the Circles. Some SBCO sections are running in single or in double hand. In the year 1987, after introduction of new categories like MIS and NSS the work load has been tremendously increased. Simultaneously the staff strength decreased due to non filling of the posts under ADR plan and ban on creation of new posts as per justification. As such work of SBCO remained pending everywhere.

            There was also shortage of staff in SB branches of HOs which resulted in non submission/delay in submission of daily returns to SBCO. After decentralization of RD/MIS categories, in most of the HOs returns are submitted in bulk and / or delayed for six months to one year or some where it is not submitted at all. Required help to clear the pending return received in bulk was also not given to SBCO causing the pendency in voucher checking and ledger agreement. Poor quality of work by SB SO and SB HO branches also caused on efficiency of the SBCO staff in performing their duties. This status of work was known to Department and Department ordered outsourcing of data entry work in the year 2008. This order also was not implemented in most of the HOs. Any way Department failed to update the work of SBCO which remained pending for no fault of SBCO staffs.

            In last few years so many frauds have come to the light for which SBCO staffs are being held responsible and made subsidiary offenders. In many HOs SBCO staff could not attend the voucher checking and ledger agreement work due to shortage. But this non checking of vouchers by SBCO staff is being shown the reason for not detection of the frauds and recovery is being imposed on SBCO staff. In this case SBCO staffs are being held responsible even though they could not attend the work of voucher checking and ledger agreement due to shortage of staffs.

The SBCO sections were reporting the work position and reason of pendency to Divisional Heads every month through its monthly progress report and sometimes through special report. The pendency was also being noticed by the Sr. Accounts Officers, ICO (SB) was being intimated to DO/RO through their yearly inspection reports for taking necessary action. The pendency was also known to Divisional Heads as during six monthly inspections of HO the work of SBCO was also being reviewed by the ASPOs/SSPOs. But the Department has not taken any concrete measure to liquidate the pendency but SBCO officials are being charged sheeted for not attending the voucher checking and other work. It is also to bring to your kind notice that the BOs and SOs are also being inspected by Divisional Heads periodically but failing to detect the frauds and shouldering whole responsibility on SBCO staff. This union feels it is injustice to the SBCO staff.        

            Recently in Maharashtra Circle in Borival, Alibag, Panvel, Beed, Gondia, and Mahim HO and in other Circles also frauds have taken place and SBCO staffs are held responsible for not detecting the frauds as voucher checking work was in arrears. But the fact is that the justified staff was not provided to SBCO by DO/CO to update the work. Here the staff is being punished for the work which they have not attended due to shortage of staff.

Sometimes frauds are committed by SAS/MPKBY agents out and out. In these cases money is not credited to the Govt. account. SBCO staff cannot check the transaction/voucher which is not submitted to SBCO and not accounted for in Govt. account. But recovery has been imposed on SBCO staff. It is the shortcut method to recover the defrauded amount being adopted by the investigating officers. This union feels it is injustice to SBCO staff. The disciplinary authorities are not observing contents of the above mentioned provisions of the Rules in these cases.

            It is therefore requested to instruct all the Circle Heads/ Divisional Heads to observe the provisions of Rule 106 and 107 of P & T Manual Volume III and your office letter No. C-32016/07/2006-VP dated 14.11.2006 and not to hold the SBCO staff responsible for the work which they have not attended due to shortage of staff.

            It is also requested to order to refund the recoveries already made from the staff of SBCO which are unjustified.

            Thanking you,
           
                                                                                                                                    Yours faithfully,

[P.A.MHATHRE, GENERAL SECRETARY]