Breach of GoI instructions on purchase of printer accessories Government Department procures Toners/Cartridges allegedly from unauthorised suppliers

Staff Correspondent
Port Blair, Dec 2: A firm prohibition imposed by the Central Vigilance Commission in the year 2008 notwithstanding, purchase of counterfeit printer toners from unauthorised agents in the islands continues unabated in the Electricity Department.
The UT Administration too, in the year 2011, issued an advisory to all Departments to purchase computer and IT accessories like Toners from OEM authorised suppliers or dealers. But a unit of the Electricity Department allegedly places direct supply orders to a firm, which is reportedly not an authorised supplier of Lexmark products in the islands.
According to some suppliers of IT products, one Executive Engineer (HQ) of Electricity Department routinely floats tenders for supply of Toner Cartridge for Lexmark X264H11G (High Yield Print) Printers.
“But in violation of the instructions of the Govt. of India, bids of authorised dealers are not entertained by the particular Executive Engineer. In many occasions, the quotations were cancelled midway and supply orders placed directly to supplier, which is not an authorised supplier of the product. While placing direct supply orders, the Department even do not mention the Dealership Clause and in so doing the Department is encouraging purchase of counterfeit and duplicate toners in government departments. The Department never bothers to verify the credentials of suppliers particularly those of toners as the Govt. of India way back in the year 2008 has strictly call for use of genuine toners and computer accessories in government agencies,” claim some suppliers.
The Central Vigilance Commission in a memorandum to all government departments said that use of counterfeit consumables such as printer cartridges and toners etc which are refilled with ink of poor quality leads to poor performance and clogging, smudging in printers etc.
All government agencies should purchase consumables from OEC authorised suppliers or distributors to ensure quality and longevity of printer equipments, the Commission noted.
After the memorandum, instructions were issued to all departments of the UT administration to purchase consumables like toners/ cartridges only from authorised dealers of reputed companies like Ricoh/Gestetner/ HP/ Toshiba/Canon etc.