Muzaffarpur Salary Scam: PRANs Issued To Temporary Workers, Probe On Nagar Parishad Staff

A major irregularity has surfaced in the Sahebganj Nagar Parishad, Muzaffarpur, where attempts were allegedly made to pass off temporary and outsourced workers as permanent government employees. 

The conspiracy came to light when Permanent Retirement Account Numbers (PRANs), meant only for regular state or central government staff, were found issued in the names of Nagar Parishad employees.

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The matter was flagged by District Treasury Officer Vinod Tiwari after suspicious salary bills, including PRAN-linked details, landed at his office last month. On scrutiny, it was revealed that non-salaried workers had been listed as permanent staff, raising serious doubts about the involvement of municipal officials and computer operators. Several data entry operators have already been suspended, while the roles of the Executive Officer and other officials remain under probe.

“These employees are hired on honorarium from the council’s own funds. How could they suddenly appear as permanent government staff? The bill was stopped, and a detailed investigation is underway,” Tiwari confirmed.

When contacted, the Executive Officer of Sahebganj Nagar Parishad admitted that an “error” occurred and claimed it had been withdrawn, but did not explain how such a large-scale mistake was possible.

Officials suspect the attempt could be part of a bigger racket, as the Urban Development and Housing Department’s confirmation of employees’ positions was allegedly misused to generate PRANs. Investigators believe this mechanism could have been intended to regularise outsourced staff illegally.

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What is a PRAN?

A Permanent Retirement Account Number (PRAN) is a unique 12-digit number issued to regular government employees under the National Pension System (NPS). It enables pension savings management and related benefits and is not meant for contractual or temporary workers.

“The case is serious. At which level the irregularities occurred will be revealed only after the probe,” Treasury Officer Vinod Tiwari said.