IN A city that has not less than a dozen odd colonies to house government officials, the Estate authorities have not been able to find an accommodation for City Magistrate Indra Vikram Singh forcing the latter to proceed on ‘protest leave.’
In fact, before proceeding on leave, Singh, according to sources, had sent representations in this connection to the chief secretary, the Rajya Sampati Adhikari and other concerned officers, including a copy to District Magisrtate RN Tripathi.
According to a Government Order, a city magistrate is entitled to a rent-free official accommodation. In case, no official residence was available, the officer would be entitled to House Rent Allowance commensurate with his pay-scale.
And this is where the problem began. For in the absence of government accommodation, Singh was asked to put up in a flat in the upmarket Civil Services Tower (CSI) in Gomti Nagar.
“Against an HRA of just Rs 307 per month, he (Singh) had to pay over Rs 3,000 each month for his two-bedroom flat in the CSI Tower,” revealed a source.
Unable to bear the pinch on his pocket, the CM raised the issue with the authorities several time but to no avail. Ironically, if sources are to be believed, what made things even worse for Singh was that the fixed HRA rule has been conveniently flouted by some 800 officers in the past, who have been paid far greater rent (Rs 3,750 per month) against the norms. “It is not his (Singh’s) case that he too should be paid an equivalent HRA. But that if others have erred then the government should recover the excess amount paid to them under the head,” said an official.
{{/usCountry}}Unable to bear the pinch on his pocket, the CM raised the issue with the authorities several time but to no avail. Ironically, if sources are to be believed, what made things even worse for Singh was that the fixed HRA rule has been conveniently flouted by some 800 officers in the past, who have been paid far greater rent (Rs 3,750 per month) against the norms. “It is not his (Singh’s) case that he too should be paid an equivalent HRA. But that if others have erred then the government should recover the excess amount paid to them under the head,” said an official.
{{/usCountry}}While District Magistrate RN Tripathi was not available for comment, additional district magistrate (executive) NP Singh was evasive on the issue. The ADM initially denied that Singh had proceeded on ‘protest leave’ but replied in the affirmative when asked whether he was aware that the CM had given any representation related to the issue to the DM. “We are pursuing the matter with the authorities concerned and everything would be okay soon,” he said.