Thiruvananthapuram: A report from the Treasury Director has highlighted a serious lapse regarding the early payment of salaries to staff in the Secretariat and some ministerial offices. Salaries for September, which were due from October 1, were credited to the accounts of certain officials on Thursday evening.

The premature payment was attributed to a glitch in processing salary bills at the Secretariat’s sub-treasury. In light of this issue, Treasury Director V. Sajan has recommended disciplinary action against the Secretariat Sub-Treasury Officer, Shafeeq, to the Additional Chief Secretary of the Finance Department, Dr. A. Jayathilak. Shafeeq is also an office bearer of the Kerala Gazetted Officers' Association.

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Finance Minister K.N. Balagopal has instructed the Treasury Director to investigate whether similar occurrences have happened at other state treasuries and to examine any systemic issues related to salary disbursements, the Minister wanted to particularly ensure that the salaries aren’t disbursed more than once in a month.

The Treasury Director has obtained a written explanation from Shafeeq. It was noted that while salary bills are often passed early, the accounting date is typically set for the first of the month, which is when salaries are supposed to reach employees' accounts. The explanation indicated that there was a failure to record the correct accounting date in the Secretariat Treasury.

Employees taken by surprise

It is reported that many employees withdrew the money or transferred it to other accounts immediately after their salaries got credited. They ‘feared’ that money could be recovered when the officials realised their mistake. Meanwhile, Treasury officials quickly halted the salary distribution as soon as they recognised the error on their side.

Amid worries that the financial crisis might delay salary payments, employees were really surprised to receive their salaries five days early, probably for the first time in history!