One Aadhaar, two jobs? What Telangana’s probe found
HYDERABAD: The Telangana government has ordered an inquiry after the Finance Department detected government employees allegedly drawing salaries from more than one department using the same Aadhaar number.
The Finance Department identified 40 suspicious Aadhaar cases involving 80 employees, according to one report, with employees in key departments including revenue, police, education and health among those flagged.
The employees, who were identified as regular government staff, allegedly received salaries ranging from ₹1.5 lakh to ₹2 lakh a month between April and June.
Finance Department detects duplicate Aadhaar numbers
The department had, over the past six months, been collecting employees’ Aadhaar and Permanent Account Number details through the Integrated Financial Management Information System (IFMIS).
When the data was checked through software for duplication of Aadhaar numbers against employee records, officials found cases in which employees with different names had been receiving two salaries from separate departments using the same Aadhaar number.
In some cases, employees with the same name had submitted their Aadhaar details in one department but received salaries from another without providing the number.
For instance, a woman employee reportedly received ₹2.09 lakh from the revenue department in April after providing her Aadhaar number, while receiving another ₹1.50 lakh from the police department without providing Aadhaar details.
The Finance Department sought explanations from the drawing officers of the two departments on how this was possible.
Two employees in the education department were also found to have received salaries against the same Aadhaar number. The Finance Department said a deeper examination of records was continuing.
The cases have raised questions over whether employees deliberately defrauded the government to draw two salaries, whether Aadhaar details were entered incorrectly or whether there was a technical error.
Chief secretary seeks report within seven days
Chief Secretary Sanjay Jaju on Friday directed all government departments to conduct a comprehensive inquiry into the cases and determine whether the duplication was deliberate or resulted from errors in entering Aadhaar details.
The government has also directed departments to verify the Aadhaar and other personal and employment details of all regular employees, grant-in-aid staff and temporary employees working in public sector undertakings, corporations, societies and other government organisations through the portal.
Jaju directed officials to examine whether employees had concealed facts or provided false information.
“Cases involving employees who fraudulently received salary or remuneration from more than one government department should be treated as serious financial irregularities and disciplinary action should be taken,” he said in the directions.
“Cases should be registered for offences such as creating forged documents, falsifying official records, criminal breach of trust and misappropriation of government funds.”
The chief secretary also directed officials to take action under the Telangana Civil Services rules if fraudulent conduct was established.
“Government money drawn illegally should be recovered and a criminal case should be registered,” the directions said.
The inquiry will also examine whether negligence or lapses by officials enabled employees to draw two salaries, or whether officials colluded with the employees.
Officials have been directed to submit detailed reports on the cases to the Finance Department within seven days.
Separate report flags duplicate salary payments
Another report in the source material said an internal Finance Department inquiry found that some government employees had received salaries or remuneration from more than one government department.
It said the online registration of employee details through IFMIS brought the suspected cases to light.
The report said the Finance Department had been uploading Aadhaar and PAN details of employees across departments for the past six months. Software checks subsequently detected duplicate Aadhaar numbers.
According to that report, 40 employees had been identified so far, with further scrutiny under way.
37 junior lecturers face notices over certificates
The source material also carries a separate report on 37 junior lecturers who allegedly submitted fake certificates and obtained regularisation.
The Intermediate Board has issued notices to the 37 lecturers and directed them to submit their replies within seven weeks.
The authorities have decided to consider disciplinary action, including dismissal from service, as well as criminal proceedings, if the allegations are established.
