Divisional Commissioner asked to appear before BHRC

Purnia Division Commissioner has been asked by the Bihar Human Rights Commission to appear before it in a case related to non-payment of salary to a state administrative service officer belonging to Scheduled Caste category.
"We have asked the Purnia Divisional Commissioner to appear before BHRC on November 7 as he failed to take action against Purnia District Magistrate for ignoring and refusing to part information in the case," said Neelmani, BHRC member.
The case pertains to one Gopal Saran, Bihar Administrative Service (BAS) officer, posted as Deputy Collector Land Reforms at Bayasi in Purnia.
In his petition to BHRC, Saran complained that his salary for 32 months from May 2010 to March 2012 and February 2013 to November 2013 was not paid by Purnia DM despite repeated requests.

Saran also alleged that his salary was partially released between April 2012 and January 2013, but then again no payment was made and the money meant for his salary was diverted to pay the salary to staff working at the office of Sub-divisional Officer.
Neelmani said the BHRC had directed the DC to send a report within one month after the complaint was filed. The DC issued eight reminders to Purnia DM but no reply came.
"This shows blatant apathy on the part of Purnia DM. If he can ignore orders then the DC should have initiated action against him and called for relevant records to ascertain the facts," Neelmani added.

He also said that the Divisional Commissioner has been asked to submit a report on whether the orders of Purnia DM of withholding the salary of the official concerned was arbitrary, and if the money meant to be given to the petitioner was diverted for making payments to others.