Why is it not mandatory for non-gazetted employees?

FILING ANNUAL RETURNS

 STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: Assam Civil Service (ACS) and Assam Police Service (APS) officers have to submit their annual IPRs (Immovable Property Returns) and MPRs (Movable Property Returns) to the government. If the government wants to deal with the malaise of corruption, it should make it mandatory for non-gazetted government employees to also submit their IPRs and MPRs every year. In fact, as per the provisions of the Assam Civil Services (Conduct) Rules, 1965, all government employees should submit their annual property returns.

But this rule has not been enforced. Recently, the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) registered a disproportionate assets case against former officer in-charge of Dhula Police Station, Sub Inspector Utpal Bora. During investigation, it was found that he was in possession of disproportionate assets to the tune of Rs. 1.26 crore, which is more than 947% of his known sources of income. Utpal Bora is just one example. There are allegedly many other police officers, junior engineers and non-gazetted government employees who are in possession of wealth and property disproportionate to their known sources of income.

Sources said that as per rules if a government employee buys any movable or immovable property worth more than Rs 10,000, he must show his source of income. But is this rule followed?

Sources further said that a section of high-level officers and employees have to file annual property returns to the government at the time of promotion. But to curb corruption, the government should ask all employees to submit the annual property returns every year, not just at the time of promotion.

Sources added that while there are rules which can help check the menace of corruption at the administrative level, there is no mechanism to monitor the implementation of these rules and a section of non-gazetted employees are exploiting these loopholes to reap personal benefits.

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