BBMP asks 68 babus to pack their bags

Following a MiD DAY report published on July 8 regarding several officials drawing double salaries despite their tenure expiring, civic commissioner finally does the needful.

Following a MiD DAY report published on July 8 regarding several officials drawing double salaries despite their tenure expiring, civic commissioner finally does the needful.

After this paper reported about the lapse of judgment on BBMP Commissioner Siddaiah's part in revoking transfer orders of 68 officials deputed to the BBMP from different departments, he has now done what should have been done much earlier.


At long last: The report that was published in MiD DAY on July 8u00a0
enforced the civic commissioner to ask all the officials, who had been
drawing double salaries at taxpayer's cost, to return to their respective
parent departments

MiD DAY's report published on July 8, 'Civic Body wastes Rs 3.6 crore on 68 babus' has had an impact. BBMP commissioner in the council meeting has asked the 68 officials, who had been drawing double salaries at taxpayer's cost, to pack their bags and return to their respective parent departments.

Lobby nailed
Suspecting a lobby behind the stay of these officials, MiD DAY had approached the opposition leader to check whether they are keeping an eye on the functioning style of the BBMP. MiD DAY had obtained documents wherein the names and designations of all 68 officials figured, all of who were deputed on BBMP duty from various departments. However, even after completion of their tenure, they continued in their respective deputations and the commissioner had extended their stay by revoking their transfer orders.

Speaking in his defense then, the commissioner had blamed the increasing monsoon duties. But after MiD DAY's report was discussed in the BBMP council meeting yesterday, the commissioner accepting his fault said, "We are now issuing orders through our administrative department to send back all those officials appointed from various departments."

Oppn celebrates
Reacting on this, opposition leader in the council Uday Shankar said, "We have voiced our views against this
mismanagement in the BBMP. MiD DAY took the issue and handled it well. As a result the BBMP has now acted and sent the officials back."

However, the Standing Committee Chairman (Administration) H R Krishnappa, who earlier defended the commissioner's move to retain the officials, refused to comment beyond saying, "No concrete decision has been taken on the transfer of these officials."

Decision dilemma
The 68 officials deputed on BBMP duty had completed two years in the month of June and the Administrative Standing Committee had sent a letter to the commissioner on June 13 to transfer the officials back to their parent departments.u00a0The commissioner had approved the letter on June 26, but revoked it on July 2. The corporation has lost taxpayer's money amounting to Rs 3.6 crore, as a result of paying salaries to these officials.