Page 36 - Banking Finance January 2024

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individual need is just a virtual financial address of the "Findmybank" (findmybank.gov.in). This application can
receiver such as his mobile number or Aadhaar number be used for various administrative purposes like business
or a virtual name. His real financial address is discovered strategies for banks. Over 6 lakh FI touch points have
by the National Payment Corporation of India. Now the been mapped on GIS which includes 1.5 lakh bank
sender doesn't need to know the account details to send branches, 2 lakh ATMs, 1.5 lakh Post Offices and 1.3 lakh
money but he can now use BHIM app and use BCs
recipient's mobile number, Aadhaar number or Virtual
The Jan Dhan Darshak application provides an interface for
Payment Address to send money. This means you have
Citizen to view the Banking infrastructure in India consisting
to have a smart phone, and everyone should be an
of Bank Branches, ATMs, Bank Mitra, Post office and CSC
account holder.
locations. The data is collated by Department of Financial
9. DigiGAON: Pradhan Mantri Gramin Digital Saksharta Services from Scheduled Commercial Banks both in Public
Abhiyan (PMGDISHA) is extended to rural households and Private Sector.
for imparting knowledge on basic education and health
services Conclusion
Through experience we accept that one of the major reasons
10. Jan Dhan Darshak: a Geographic Information System for slow progress in financial inclusion was absence of reach/
(GIS) mobile application, has also been launched to coverage and hurdles in dissemination of the benefits of
provide a citizen centric platform for locating financial Government and financial system to the person at the end.
service touch points across all providers such as banks, This gap has now been bridged through all the above modes
post office, ATMs, CSC, etc. These services could be of information and communication technology. Further
availed as per the needs and convenience of the through various upcoming Government initiatives future
common people. The web version of this application is prosperity of the country is ensured.

SC: Officials must pay for loss to exchequer due to illegal acts
Holding that the government exchequer should not suffer losses due to illegal decisions of officers, the Supreme Court
has said that such officers along with those who get undue benefit shall have to make good that amount, and directed
that money be recovered in a case related to an officer who was illegally granted a higher pay scale which he has
been enjoying for the past 24 years. Showing no leniency to erring officials whose illegal decision led to the officer
getting paid at a higher scale for more than two decades, a bench of Justices Hima Kohli and Rajesh Bindal directed
that the excess amount paid must be reimbursed to the exchequer as it was not a bonafide mistake but favouritism
shown to him by changing rules.
In this case the officer joined the Commission for Scientific and Technical Terminology as a Research Assistant (Medi-
cine) in 1999 along with others in the pay scale of Rs 6,500-10,500, but an order was passed in 2006 granting him
higher pay scale of Rs 8,000-13,500 with effect from the date of his appointment. Aggrieved by the order, his col-
leagues who were not extended the same benefit approached tribunal and courts and finally they had to approach
the SC through lawyer Somesh Jha and Amartya Sharan after their plea was denied by lower forums including the high
court. The bench said that the favouritism shown to the officer was very evident and noted that he was allowed
multiple times to go on deputation to other organisations on higher pay scale before 2006 and joined the parent
department only after his pay scale was increased.
"In our opinion, the authorities were hand in gloves with the respondent No. 4 (the officer) to somehow grant him a
higher pay scale and repeatedly action was taken in that direction. If governed by the same set of rules, a single post
of the same cadre could not have been isolated and granted a higher pay scale by merely considering the qualifica-
tions prescribed for the post," the bench said. "It was a well-planned and deliberate infraction. We direct recovery of
the excess amount paid to the respondent No. 4, though in instalments, and/or from the officer(s), who were directly
involved in the decision-making process of granting undue benefit to him. Both should be made equally liable to reim-
burse the exchequer for the amount illegally disbursed to him. The exchequer shouldn't be made to suffer on that
account and either of two shall have to make good that loss of undue benefit granted to him," the bench stated.

32 | 2024 | JANUARY | BANKING FINANCE