Rule 34 - Loss of Govt Property
Original Rule Text
Rule 34 Loss of Government Property due to fire, theft, fraud. Departmental Officers shall, in addition to taking action as prescribed in Rule 33, follow the provisions indicated below in cases involving material loss or destruction of Government property as a result of fire, theft, fraud, etc.
All losses abovet the value of Rupees Fifty thousand due to suspected fire, theft, fraud, etc., shall be invariably reported to the Police for investigation as early as possible.
Once the matter is reported to the Police Authorities, all concerned should assist the Police in their investigation. A formal investigation report should be obtained from the Police Authorities in all cases, which are referred to them.
Loss of immovable property by fire, flood etc.. All loss of immovable property exceeding Rupees fifty thousand, such as buildings, communications, or other works, caused by fire, flood, cyclone, earthquake or any other natural cause, shall be reported at once by the subordinate authority concerned to Government through the usual channel. All other losses should be immediately brought to the notice of the next higher authority.
Report to Audit and Accounts Officers. After a full enquiry as to the cause: and the extent of thel loss has been made, the detailed report should be sent by the subordinate authority concerned to Government through the proper channel; a copy of the report or an abstract thereof being simultaneously forwarded to the Audit officer and Pay and Accounts Officer.
Responsibility of losses. An officer shall be held personally responsible for any loss sustained by the Government through fraud or negligence on his part. He will also be held personally responsible for any loss arising from fraud or negligence of any other officer to the extent to which it may be shown that he contributed to the loss by his own action or negligence.
The Departmental proceedings for assessment of responsibility for the loss shall be conducted according to the instructions contained in Appendix 1 and those issued by the Ministry of Personnel from time to time.
Prompt disposal of cases of loss. Action at each stage of detection, reporting, write off, final disposal, in cases of losses including action against delinquents and remedial measures
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What This Means
Rule 34 of the General Financial Rules (GFR), 2017 deals with what to do when government property is lost or destroyed due to events like fire, theft, or fraud. Think of it as the 'what happens next' rule after an incident. It essentially says that in addition to the initial reporting and preventative measures outlined in Rule 33, further actions are required when there's a significant loss of government assets.
This rule applies to all government departments and their officers. It's crucial because it ensures accountability and helps recover losses whenever possible. It affects anyone responsible for managing or safeguarding government property, from a storekeeper in a small office to a senior official overseeing a large department. The rule mandates a thorough investigation and appropriate action to prevent future occurrences and potentially recover lost assets.
In essence, Rule 34 is about damage control and learning from mistakes. It's a reminder that simply reporting a loss isn't enough; active steps must be taken to understand why it happened and prevent it from happening again. It's a key part of maintaining financial discipline and protecting public resources.
This explanation was generated with AI assistance for educational purposes. Always refer to the official gazette notification for authoritative text.
Key Points
- 1Applies when government property is lost or destroyed due to fire, theft, fraud, etc.
- 2Complements Rule 33 by outlining further actions beyond initial reporting.
- 3Mandates investigation and action to prevent future losses.
- 4Aims to recover losses and ensure accountability.
- 5Affects all government departments and officers responsible for government property.
Practical Example
In the Department of Rural Development, a fire broke out in the storage facility destroying stationery worth ₹50,000. Mr. Sharma, the store in-charge, immediately reported the incident as per Rule 33. However, following Rule 34, the Head of the Department, Ms. Verma, constituted a committee to investigate the cause of the fire. The committee found that faulty wiring was the cause and recommended immediate repairs and regular electrical safety checks. Furthermore, they assessed the possibility of recovering some value from the damaged stationery and implemented stricter inventory control measures to prevent future losses. The report was submitted to the appropriate authority for further action, including fixing responsibility if any negligence was found.
This explanation was generated with AI assistance for educational purposes. Always refer to the official gazette notification for authoritative text.
Cross References
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between Rule 33 and Rule 34?▼
Who is responsible for taking action under Rule 34?▼
What kind of 'action' is expected under Rule 34?▼
Does Rule 34 apply to minor losses?▼
What if the loss is due to a natural disaster?▼
This explanation was generated with AI assistance for educational purposes. Always refer to the official gazette notification for authoritative text.
Test Your Knowledge
Question 1 of 3
According to Rule 34 of GFR 2017, what is the primary focus when Government property is lost due to fire, theft, or fraud, in addition to actions prescribed in Rule 33?