'Get clearance from boss if you're spending Rs 5,000': Uttarakhand government's bizarre order grabs attention

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In a bizarre notice dated July 14, the Uttarakhand government said that all government employees will have to get clearance from their boss if they spend over Rs 5,000. The notice, nonetheless, had sparked outrage.

"Any government servant who enters into any dealing by way of sale or purchase or otherwise in respect of any movable property of the value exceeding his one month's pay or Rs. 5,000, whichever is less, shall immediately report such dealing to the appropriate authority," the notice said.

"But for any transaction which is carried on by a person other than a regular and reputed businessman, it shall be necessary to obtain the prior approval of the appropriate authority," it added.

The government employees will have to get clearance from the Head of Department or the "appropriate authority" even in cases of immovable property - both in cases of buying as well as selling. Gifting of such properties is also included in the new policy.

Under the new rule, the government employees have to mandatorily declare all immovable property at the time of joining and every five years after that. This will apply to spouses or any member of the family living in the same house as the employee in question.

NDTV reported that the President of the Uttarakhand SC-ST Employees Federation, Karam Ram, has termed the new notice "ridiculous" and has demanded that it be withdrawn. "In today's era of inflation and with the 10 types of taxes that need to be paid, nearly everything you go to buy for your wife or children will cost over Rs 5,000," he said, with respect to the notice.

"If you want to buy a saree for your wife, do you have to take permission from the department head for that too? Do you have to take permission to buy clothes for the children?" he further asked.