The Union Finance Ministry may register a complaint against unknown persons who circulated a forged office memorandum claiming that dearness allowance for Union government employees had been enhanced from 107 per cent to 115 per cent with effect from January 1.
April Fools’ Day prank In what appears to be an April Fools’ Day prank, the doctored Department of Expenditure memorandum signed by an Under-Secretary-level official said the DA had been increased by 8 per cent.
Coming as it did in the wake of reports suggesting that the government had decided on a six per cent hike, the memorandum went viral among government officials.
However, their joy was short-lived as the Department of Expenditure issued a clarification on April 1. “No such instructions have been issued ... Accordingly, all Ministries, departments and Central Government offices are hereby advised not to take cognisance of these fake instructions being circulated in Government offices.”
A senior government official said the Finance Ministry may soon lodge a complaint with the police.
“Revision of dearness allowance requires prior Cabinet approval, after which the Department of Expenditure brings out an office memorandum. The order is then circulated to all Ministries and departments through the Department of Personnel and Training,” he said.
