By IANS
Ranchi : Who will foot the bill of mobile sets gifted to Jharkhand legislators during the budget session of the assembly?
Each of the 82 legislators were gifted E-51I Nokia model. The price of each set comes to around Rs.13,000.
According to sources, finance secretary, Rajbala Verma, raised objection over payment of the mobile sets.
“There is provision to purchase one mobile set at a cost of Rs.10,000. The total purchase amount should not cross Rs.50,000 at one time. If the purchase amount exceeds the limit then tender should be invited for purchase of the products,” says a government directive.
The finance secretary raised objection that the limit for purchasing each mobile set as well as total cost of the 82 mobiles exceeds the prescribed limit.
The finance department purchased the mobiles on credit to distribute among the legislators. Now the file for payment has been sent to Chief Minister Madhu Koda.
An official at the finance department said: “The mobile sets were purchased in a hurry. The decision to distribute mobile sets to legislators was taken at the last moment and this is the reason tender could not be invited.”