The State Mines and Geology Department, known for raising the highest revenue for the State, has failed to take a simple decision in case of payment of retirement benefits to a retired employee for which the aggrieved has been leading a miserable life for the last three years .
Sources revealed that one Nityanada Sahu who was working as a technical assistant in the office of Joint Director, Geology, in Keonjhar district, had retired in April, 2017. Like all other employees, he had also dreamt of leading the rest of his life peacefully after receiving his retirement dues from the Government.
But to his utter shock and dismay, he was denied of his gratuity on the plea that there has been a overpayment of Rs 45,000 against him. He was asked to return back the same.
However, Nityanada has moved the State Administative Tribunal against this and was able get an order in his favour.
As per rules, every dispute ends after pronouncement of a judicial order but in case of Nityanada , the Director of Geology , Bhubaneshwar referred the matter to the Secretary, Mining and Geology. Ironically, the then Secretary RK Sharma became a party to the department conspiracy against Nityanada by sitting on the files for more than two years till he was shifted to Agriculture department recently and agravated the issue by referring the file to the Finance Department just a few days befire his transfer from the department without himself taking a decision on the matter.
Nityanada wonders when the department is so smart in clearing the files of multinational companies what prevents it from taking a decision in the case of Nityanda who has contributed his lot in surveying iron ore deposit for the department .