On the one hand when there are no hostels set up by the Higher Education Department for students from economically weaker sections, the same department has been doling out several crores to its employees on various grounds without even possessing the relevant documents.
On a Right To Information reply received by The Indian Express, it has come to fore that the department was unable to provide any documents to the Maharashtra Accountant General during the audit inspection between December 16, 2014, and December 26, 2014, before disbursing Rs 4.17 crore on house building advance, Rs 69.23 lakh on motorcycle advance and Rs 47.2 lakh on computer advance to its employees.
The inspection was carried out for the period between May 1, 2012, and November 30, 2014. To take these advances, the employees have to submit agreement in paper in Form 20 (before taking advance), mortgage deed in the name of Governor with registration from assistant registrar in Form 21 (on receipt advance), insurance paper from the director of insurance, purchase paper/ purchase stamp receipt (purchase should be made within three months in case of HBA from the date of receipt of advance) and copy of registration of vehicle and driving licence issued by the RTO.
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The report says that ‘mortgage deed in the name of the Governor was not furnished by 14 employees for the period May 1, 2011, to March 30, 2012, by 28 employees in 2012-13 and 21 employees in 2013-14.
It further said, “The department sanctioned Rs 33,44,408 (2012-13) and Rs 35,79,137 (2013-14) as motorcycle advance and Rs 41, 00, 000 (2012-13) and Rs 6, 20, 000 (2013-14) as computer advance, respectively. However, documents were not obtained.”
In reply to the objections raised by the Accountant General’s office, the department said the work to obtain necessary documents is in progress and will be furnished shortly, but as of now nothing has been completed.
Administrative Officer Prakash Bachhav said, “The department was supposed to give the compliance in a month but due to various reasons there has been a delay. We will complete the entire process in a month.”