Surprise inspections carried out by Lokayukta officials on BBMP offices last week unearthed several irregularities including non-maintenance of records, missing files, long pendency of applications, interference of middlemen and contract employees or non-employees ruling the roost at several offices, a statement from Lokayukta said. 

The inspection led by Justice B.S. Patil on January 10 covered nine BBMP offices and revealed that many permanent employees were not present in the office when the teams visited them. “These officials did not turn up when they were called during the inspection,” the statement said.

Furthermore, in some offices private people were hired by permanent employees on a salary basis to work on their behalf, which is a gross violation of the service rules, the Lokayukta said. A youth who was found working on behalf of his mother was booked and arrested. 

The Lokayukta further said that in most of these offices attendance register, travel register, cash declaration register were not maintained. In some offices the Lokayukta officials recovered unaccounted cash which is being probed. 

Majority of the offices did not have signboards informing the public of the services offered at the office and the status of applications had not been updated online.

Also, in many offices the Lokayukta did not find any spot inspection reports of works taken up in their jurisdiction, no documents to show that buildings that have got their plans approved and are under construction were inspected, and action taken to demolish illegal buildings.