Glaring lapses at chief architect’s office in TVM, PWD to resolve issues

Thiruvananthapuram: An enquiry in the chief architect’s office here under the Public Works Department revealed that the cash declaration register has not been used for at least a month. 

It is mandatory to record the amount of cash held by the officials while entering the office daily. However,  officials concerned did not maintain the register in March. They also failed to supervise whether other staff filled the register on time. 

The concerned officials-chief architect PS Rajeev and deputy chief architect VS Gireesh were suspended after the enquiry. 

Vigilance found that the top officials have neither checked the punching statement nor the duty register. The employees are also accused of taking unauthorized leaves without submitting leave applications. The vigilance will also examine the individual complaints that were received particularly against an officer. 

The irregularities in the chief architect’s office of PWD surfaced during the surprise visit of minister PA Mohammed Riyas.  He had received various complaints about the lapse of employees in PWD’s architect wing and the move was based on that. The staff in other sections under PWD alleged that the files forwarded to the architect’s section did not return on time. 

Currently, the architect wing of PWD has the authority to take independent decisions in matters related to appointment, transfer and other administrative affairs. The vigilance has recommended bringing the office under the direct control of the PWD and the order is likely to be released soon after receiving the approval of the minister.