UP Government Withholds Salaries of 130 GDA Officials Over Asset Declaration Delay
The Uttar Pradesh government has taken a strict stance on transparency by withholding the salaries of at least 130 officials from the Ghaziabad Development Authority (GDA). This action comes as a direct consequence of their failure to submit detailed information about their movable and immovable assets on the state's Manav Sampada portal by the mandatory deadline of January 31.
Immediate Salary Suspension and Potential Disciplinary Action
According to official statements, the salaries for the month of January have been completely stopped for these officials. The payments will remain suspended until the required asset declarations are properly uploaded to the portal. The government has also issued a clear warning that more severe disciplinary measures could follow if compliance is not achieved promptly.
This is not an isolated incident affecting only GDA officials. Across Uttar Pradesh, salary payments for more than 68,000 state government employees have been withheld due to similar non-compliance. These employees come from various crucial departments including public works, revenue, education, health, and social welfare.
Mandatory Annual Asset Declaration Requirement
A GDA official explained that since 2023, the state government has made it compulsory for all officials to file annual declarations of their assets—both movable and immovable—through the Manav Sampada portal. "The declarations must be submitted within a specified timeframe," the official stated. "Failure to meet this requirement can result in salary withholding and may even impact promotions."
Financial and Organizational Impact on GDA
The Ghaziabad Development Authority employs over 850 individuals whose salaries, totaling more than Rs 5 crore, are directly deposited into their bank accounts between the 5th and 7th of each month. The asset declaration mandate applies universally to all officers and staff members, from Group A to Group D categories.
An office bearer of the GDA Employee Union expressed concern about the broader implications of this salary suspension. "Among GDA's 850 employees, approximately half are supervisors and workmates," they noted. "Withholding salaries will significantly affect employee morale, particularly for those who are not in higher positions within the organizational structure."
Challenges in Compliance and Technical Hurdles
When questioned about why so many officials failed to meet the deadline, the union representative pointed to practical difficulties. "The declaration process is quite cumbersome," they explained. "Many employees are not particularly tech-savvy, yet they are required to upload detailed asset information to the Manav Sampada portal. This technical challenge likely contributed to many missing the January 31 deadline."
Manav Sampada Portal: A Tool for Transparency and Accountability
Officials revealed that the state government launched the Manav Sampada Portal in 2024 with the specific goal of enhancing transparency in administrative procedures. The portal primarily focuses on bringing the activities of employees and officials from 74 public departments across Uttar Pradesh into the public domain.
The government believes this initiative will foster greater accountability to both the public and the administration. Additionally, officials stated that this system is expected to play a significant role in addressing corruption issues within government offices by making asset information publicly accessible and regularly updated.
