Official vehicles used for errands in Kasargod

KOZHIKODE: There is  rampant misuse of official vehicles in Kasargod, including by the staff  of government, quasi-government and  autonomous institutions.   Following public complaints,  the district finance inspecting wing has sent an alert against the misuse.

“Disciplinary action will be taken and fine would be slapped against such officers. We have been receiving complaints over government vehicles being run to the railway station, religious places, beaches and parks for non-official purposes,”  Kasargod district finance inspecting officer (DFIO) K.V. Mukundan told  DC.

He added that the majority of the plaints were  against police and  revenue departments over the running of vehicles to and fro Kasargod railway station to pick and drop officers.

Vidyanagar,   where almost all the government offices are situated,  including collectorate and office of the superintendent of police,   is seven km  from the railway station and there is hardly any bus service from the railway station to Vidyanagar. 

Government employees from other districts leave  the offices early accdule on weekends and arrive  late on Mondays, as per the complaints. “More than half of the offices will be vacant on Friday afternoon as the staff leave to catch the south-bound Chennai mail and Mangalore-Thiruvananthapuram express which come at 2 p.m. and 3 p.m.  respectively at Kasargod station,”  said a gazetted officer at the collectorate. 

But the finance inspecting wing in Kasargod is left with only three staff to check and take action against erring officials. “We cannot respond to the public complaints in the midst of our  finance auditing,” admits the DFIO.