Six officers of the Soil Survey and Soil Conservation Department in Kerala have been suspended for fraudulently claiming social security pensions meant for the underprivileged.
The suspended officials, ranging from part-time sweepers to work officers from Kasaragod, Kozhikode, and Pathanamthitta districts, have been directed to repay the wrongfully claimed amount with 18 percent interest.
The action follows a comprehensive probe that revealed 1,458 serving government employees, including Gazetted officers, were illegally drawing the monthly social welfare pension of Rs 1,600.
The Health Department emerged as the biggest violator with 373 employees, followed by the General Education Department with 224 staff members. The monthly misappropriation amounts to over Rs 23 lakh, resulting in an annual drain of nearly Rs 2.75 crore from the state exchequer.
Earlier this month, the state government cancelled social security pensions wrongfully granted to ineligible beneficiaries. The Finance Department issued a circular directing the recovery of misappropriated funds with 18 percent interest.
The department has instructed Directors of Panchayats and Municipalities to strictly implement the directive and initiate departmental action against officials responsible for the unauthorized disbursement.
The investigation covered multiple departments including schools, colleges, health services, and other state government offices, officials added.