Commission demand: Postal dept cracks whip on staff

At a programme organised for pensioners on Shri Kudroli Gokarnanatheshwara temple premises recently, elderly women had complained against some postmen who were deducting Rs 30 to Rs 50 as “commission” from their pension.

Some elderly women from Ullal had even submitted complaints against the postmen who were delaying the disbursal of old age pension for not paying bribe. Senior Superintendent of Post Offices (SSPO), Mangaluru Division, M Jagadish Pai told DH that Karnataka Circle, India post, under Chief Postmaster General (CPMG) Charles Lobo, has adopted a zero tolerance towards postmen guilty of bribery.

A postman in Tumakuru, who was found guilty of collecting bribe from a pensioner by the internal probe committee, was placed under suspension. Action was initiated against a postman caught accepting bribe during a cable channel’s sting operation.

Warning

Sources told DH that Lobo had warned the postmen of stringent action if found guilty of harassing pensioners at a conference organised in Mysuru here recently.

Mangalore Division In-charge SSPO Jagadish Pai said instructions on not to demand bribe or commission have been given to personnel in Mangaluru division’s 53 post offices and 96 branch offices. All India Postal Employees Union (AIPEU), Karnataka Circle Union President Javarayi Gowda told DH that the union also tips off higher officials, including CPMG about such corrupt postmen.

“The postmen are paid handsomely after the implementation of Seventh Pay Commission report by the Centre and we condemn such acts of demanding commission as it spoils the image of the department,’’ he stressed.