Chintha's claims prove to be false, govt sanctions Rs 8.5 lakhs in salary arrears; order says she requested for it

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The government has issued an order sanctioning Rs 8.5 lakhs as salary arrears for 17 months to Kerala State Youth Commission chairperson Chintha Jerome.

The order was issued by M Sivashankar, Principal Secretary of the Department of Sports and Youth Affairs. As per the order, the amount was sanctioned as per the request of Chintha. With this, Chintha's claims on this issue have proven to be false. The chairperson had earlier said that she did not ask for the arrears.

Arrears on top of salary of Rs 1 lakh

Chintha took charge as the chairperson on October 4, 2016. On January 6, 2017, an order was issued fixing the salary at Rs.50,000. On May 26, 2018, the salary was increased to 1 lakh and an order was issued. The Finance Department and the Youth Welfare Department had rejected the first request of Chintha to pay the arrears from October 4, 2016 to May 26, 2018. Another application was submitted again on September 14, but on the 26th, Principal Secretary M Sivashankar issued an order not to pay the dues. However, after Chintha applied again to the Finance Minister, the Finance Department issued a note to the Youth Welfare Department on December 28, clarifying the decision to pay 17 months of salary arrears.

Chintha rejects news reports

After the news broke, Youth Commission chairperson Chintha Jerome dismissed them as unsubstantiated reports against her. "I worked without salary in the early stages. I received a salary of Rs.1 lakh from May 2018. Before that, the amount was given as advance. The secretary of the Youth Commission had sent a letter to the government asking for clarification. There is no basis for the news that I will get Rs 32 lakhs. If I receive this amount together, it will be transferred to the Chief Minister's distress relief fund. The former chairman of the commission, RV Rajesh, went forward with the case. The court ordered that Rajesh be allowed salary arrears. I have not received any amount. He also went to the United Nations meeting at his own expense", Chintha responded to news regarding salary arrears.

But as the government issued an order on Tuesday, Chintha is likely to keep her word by handing over the amount received to CMDRF.