Mid-Day: Mumbai: Thursday, January 04, 2018.
RTI Response
Reveals Civic Body Has Stopped Uploading Asset Details Of Officers On Website
Since 2016 After Circular By Chief Ajoy Mehta.
While Prime
Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis have asked
ministers to declare their assets, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC)
is singing a different tune. It has overturned its own diktat of 2013, which
stated details of assets of civic officials have to be uploaded on its website.
A Right To Information (RTI) query has revealed that BMC has stopped uploading
these details since 2016, when Municipal Commissioner Ajoy Mehta issued another
circular about it.
Activists
have alleged that this will benefit corrupt officials, especially those working
in Building Proposal, Vigilance, and Roads departments, as they will easily be
able to hide their disproportionate assets. In August, RTI activist Jeetendra
Ghadge had filed an application seeking information regarding the filing of
assets returns of class A and B officers in the civic body. In reply, BMC said
it has stopped uploading assets details of staff on the website since 2016,
following a GR issued in 2014.
Cancelled
own diktat
BMC cancelled
its own diktat issued in 2013 by then additional municipal commissioner Mohan
Adtani, under which the civic body had told HODs to file assets details of all
employees online. On August 12, 2016, it issued another circular signed by
Deputy Municipal Commissioner (general administration) Sudhir Naik, additional
municipal commissioner I A Kundan, and Mehta, asking the General Administration
Department (GAD) to not upload details online, but to submit them to HODs.
Ghadge said, "Mehta
has always maintained that corrupt officials won't be spared, and transparency
in the system will be the main focus. But this information reveals a different
scenario. Decision of not uploading assets returns online exposes the
'transparency agenda'. It protects corrupt officials who have disproportionate
assets.
"I hope
better sense prevails and annual assets returns of class A and B officials are
uploaded again, as it will act as a deterrent for corrupt employees. What is
more surprising is that the BMC issued a diktat two years after the state
government's GR." Another activist, Anil Galgali, said, "Under
Maharashtra Civil Services (Conduct) Act, 1979, all government officials are
supposed to submit their assets details. If this circular is implemented, then
all officers will be scared of being involved in illegal practices, as they
will be under constant watch."
BMC speak
When
contacted, Naik said, "All employees are supposed to submit their assets
details before HODs. We never issued a circular that they be put online."
When asked about the circular issued in 2016, asking these details not be put
up online, he said, "I will have to check documents and only then I can
comment." Speaking to mid-day, Mehta said, "We go by Government
Resolutions (GRs) on such issues. On administrative matters, we follow state
circulars, and the state follows the circulars of the Government of
India."
Speaking
about the GR issued in 2014 about stopping uploading assets details of
employees on the website, he added, "It should have been implemented in
2014 itself. These are larger issues and all administrative matters, including
pay commissions, are decided by the state and central governments, and the
corporation follows them."
Did Mehta
okay Kamala Mills user change?
MNS leader
Sandeep Deshpande alleged that the municipal commissioner had allowed a change
of user of mill land for Kamala Mills, after which several restaurants and pubs
were opened there. Deshpande also alleged the BMC had not taken action against
the official from G-south ward, who was behind the permissions granted to these
eateries. "I will meet the CM and demand an inquiry against Mehta as he is
equally responsible for this mishap," said Deshpande. When asked about
Deshpande's allegation about change of user, Mehta refused to comment.
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