Thaindian News

New Delhi, Nov 9 (IANS) The Delhi High Court Wednesday was surprised to learn that a Chandigarh resident was getting a salary from the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) as part of the “ghost employee” scam and told the civic agency to act against officials who colluded with non-existent workers drawing salaries.

Vinay Kumar, a resident of Chandigarh, figured in a report filed by the Delhi Police before a division bench of Acting Chief Justice A.K. Sikri and Justice Rajiv Sahai Endlaw in the case.

The bench asked how Vinay Kumar was being paid for working in the MCD.

The acting chief justice indicted the involvement of several officials, including the appointing authority, in the case.

The court directed the civic agency to go after its officials who colluded with the non-existent or sham employees and take departmental action against them.

“You could have easily identified how was this person (from Chandigarh) is being paid, who appointed him and who paid him. It was not difficult,” said Sikri.

MCD counsel informed the court that a vigilance inquiry under the chairmanship of an additional director (vigilance) was also initiated Oct 27.

The court said that the inquiry must not rely on the evidence from the Delhi police and that they must act separately against their guilty officials.

“The vigilance inquiry should be monitored by the MCD’s vigilance officer,” said the court.

Appearing for police, standing counsel Najmi Waziri informed the court that six first information reports against 1,722 non-existing employee have been filed in the matter till date and that investigation was on.

The court was hearing a petition filed by NGO Jagrook Welfare Society.