Probability of fake employees in MCD very high: CAG

The probability of fake employees, in the rolls of municipal bodies in the national capital is "very high", the Comptroller and Auditor General has observed.

In its audit report for the fiscal 2010-11, which was tabled in Delhi Assembly today, the government auditor has made scathing observations against the erstwhile Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD).

Observing that the MCD has not made any direct recruitment of Group D employees for the past 20 years, it said this has resulted in adoption of a non transparent system of engagement and regularisation of temporary employees.

"This system provides discretionary power to officers in matters of engagement, payment and regularisation," it said.

Examination of payment details of 43 wards for a period of one month showed that an excess payment to the tune of Rs 7.82 lakh was paid to substiute sanitation workers who worked when the regular employee was on leave.

"In 188 cases, employees were unaccounted for, ie, their names were included in the pay bills but not in attendance register and in 19 cases, both the substitute as well regular employee against whom the substitute was engaged were shown as present," it said.

A postal survey and physical verfication of temporary employees conducted by the CAG showed that the "probability of fake employees being on the rolls is very high".

A postal survey of 5,000 temporary employees was conducted by the auditor and 914 employees have replied while 463 letters were "returned by the postal department due to incorrect or incomplete addresses".

A physical verfication of another 1,000 temporary employees, chosen out of a sample of 5,000, and in 147 cases, it was found that addresses were not found or employees were not residing at the addresses provided by MCD or were found to be not working in MCD.

After the trifurcation of the MCD, all these employees are being used by the newly created bodies. The MCD was earlier rocked after it came to light that a large number sanitation workers on payroll were not actually working.

"Audit survey and physical verification is only indicative of the possibility of fake employees. This has to be financially established by the Department or Crime Branch whether fake employees are existing or not," the report said.

The auditor also found fault with the absence of direct recruitment of Group A, B and C employees.

"This has led to the adoption of unhealthy practices like adhoc appointment beyond one year and assigning in Look After Charge or Current Duty Charge to ineligible employees in contravention of existing rules and regulations.

"Such adhocism does not augur well for the organisation and leads to avoidable cost escalation and poor manpower management. Irregularity in appointment of Deputy Commissioners is indicative of violation of rules at the highest levels," the report said. The CAG suggested that the municipal body should prepare a human resources manual and integrate human resources functions pertaining to all departments under the charge of a Director.