The Buxar administration has released eight months of pending salary owed to Brahmpur Rural Development Officer Alpika Singh and sought an explanation from Block Development Officer Sonu Kumar over why the payment was withheld.
The action followed reports that Singh had staged a protest outside the Brahmpur block office with a begging bowl, alleging that she had not been paid for eight months. The matter came to the administration’s attention after reports circulated on social media and other platforms.
According to a statement issued by district public relations officer Alok Narayan Vats on Wednesday, the administration said withholding the salary of a government employee without following prescribed procedures and securing approval from the competent authority was inappropriate.
The administration has asked Kumar to clarify the grounds on which Singh’s salary was withheld and identify the authority under which the decision was taken. The explanation will form part of the inquiry into the payment delay.
At the same time, the district administration will examine the BDO’s report concerning Singh’s alleged unauthorised absence from duty. The administration has not stated that the absence allegation has been established. It said further action would be taken under departmental rules after the inquiry is completed.
The case places two administrative questions together: whether the salary was withheld through an authorised process and whether the officer’s reported absence requires departmental action. The district administration’s statement indicates that both issues will be examined separately before any further decision is taken.
The release of the pending salary does not conclude the inquiry into the circumstances that led to the delay. The administration has directed officials and employees to follow government procedures strictly and to handle matters involving employees and the public with sensitivity, accountability and transparency.
For district-level administration, the episode also highlights the importance of documenting decisions involving employee pay, attendance and disciplinary procedures. The administration’s stated next step is to receive and examine the BDO’s explanation and proceed according to departmental rules after the inquiry is completed.
