Now Reading: Karnataka revenue officials got Rs 9.65 lakh festival bonus ineligible
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Karnataka revenue officials got Rs 9.65 lakh festival bonus ineligible
Three revenue department officials in Shivamogga district received a total of Rs 9.65 lakh as temple festival bonuses despite being ineligible, the Karnataka government told the Legislative Assembly. The payments came to light after a deputy commissioner's report on July 24.
The officials are Shivamogga Assistant Commissioner N G Satyanarayana (Rs 2.84 lakh), Thirthahalli tahsildar S Ranjith (Rs 4.25 lakh), and second division assistant Deepak S (Rs 2.55 lakh). Minister for Muzrai K S Basavanthappa said in a written reply that a 2015 government order allowing such bonuses was withdrawn on July 28 and August 3 after misuse of temple funds was detected.
The deputy commissioner has been directed to initiate disciplinary action. Deepak S has been transferred. The Commissioner of Religious Endowments ordered a comprehensive special audit of temple accounts for the past three years, with further action pending the audit report.
Indian Opinion Analysis
The case exposes a gap in oversight of temple funds under the Karnataka Hindu Religious Institutions and Charitable Endowments Act, 1997. The government's swift withdrawal of the 2015 bonus order suggests systemic misuse beyond these three officials. The special audit of temple accounts for the past three years will likely reveal how widespread the practice was and whether other ineligible officials benefited. Watch for the audit report, which the commissioner has sought urgently, to determine the scale of recovery and disciplinary action.
Source: newindianexpress.com
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