Odisha Govt Employees to Face Salary Deduction for Unpaid Alimony

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Odisha government employees who default on court-ordered maintenance may face salary deductions.
The provision covers maintenance or alimony payable to wives or children.
Departmental DDOs will deduct the ordered amount from monthly salaries.

BHUBANESWAR: The Odisha government has introduced a mechanism to ensure that government employees comply with court orders directing them to pay maintenance or alimony to their wives or children.

Under the new direction issued by Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, employees who fail to make court-mandated payments could have the specified amount deducted directly from their monthly salaries.

Why Odisha Took the Decision

The decision follows repeated complaints received during the Chief Minister’s grievance hearings.

Women and children have reportedly approached the grievance mechanism after being denied financial support despite having court orders in their favour.

Officials said around two to three such cases are reportedly raised during an average grievance hearing.

Taking note of the recurring issue, Majhi directed the government to establish a mechanism through which court-ordered maintenance can be recovered directly from the salaries of defaulting employees.

How Salary Deduction Will Work

Under the government’s guidelines, the process will begin once the concerned department receives a valid court order directing an employee to pay maintenance or alimony.

The department’s Drawing and Disbursing Officer (DDO) will then deduct the prescribed amount from the employee’s monthly salary.

The recovered amount will subsequently be transferred electronically to the designated bank account of the employee’s wife or children.

This mechanism is intended to reduce delays and ensure that beneficiaries receive the financial support ordered by the court.

CM Majhi Calls Non-Compliance Unacceptable

Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi has taken a firm position on employees failing to comply with judicial directions.

The government has maintained that a public employee cannot disregard a court order requiring financial support for their wife or children.

The new system is therefore aimed at ensuring that such orders are implemented without beneficiaries having to repeatedly approach authorities for enforcement.

HRMS Integration Planned

The Odisha government also plans to integrate court-ordered maintenance payments into the Human Resources Management System (HRMS).

Once implemented, the integration is expected to make salary deductions and beneficiary payments more systematic and automated.

It could also help government departments track compliance with maintenance orders and reduce administrative delays.

Relief for Women and Children

The move is expected to provide greater financial security to women and children who depend on court-ordered maintenance.

Direct deduction from salaries could also make enforcement more predictable, particularly in cases where beneficiaries have faced difficulties in recovering amounts despite obtaining judicial orders.