Our office rules and norms sometimes create problems instead of solving them. Of course, is it the rule or application of it -- is subject to interpretation. Once I was caught in the cobweb of such applied norms.

My daughter was born at Chitaaranjan Sishu Sadan  in Calcutta, while I was serving in H.P.  As a government servant I was entitled to get reimbursement of medical expenses of my family. There is a specific form for this purpose. What all the information required to be filled up in the form is clearly mentioned. In addition, doctor’s prescription, list of receipts of medicines purchased – all should be attached along with the application.  The doctor had to validate the claim by putting his/her signature on the specified place in the form. After all this was done, my brother-in-law, also serving as a doctor in the same nursing home, dispatched the package through registered post. But, my office superintendent found the application not in order. He insisted on a second signature of the doctor at another place, even though not specified in the form. So, I sent back the envelope to Calcutta. There was no harm, as such, by signing second time at another space, denoted by a cross mark by the clerk. But the doctor was adamant, saying it was redundant, and that she approved many such applications in the past without putting a second signature, as we wanted now. The package shuttled back and forth four times with no favourable outcome. My brother-in-law, despite being a senior colleague failed to soften the hubris of the doctor. She was so stubborn.

I too, couldn’t knock a dent on the pigheaded babu: he was equally rigid. He argued, it won’t pass through the finance department. The amount was about 2000 rupees. In 1970, it was equivalent to two month’s of my salary – those were the days when a person drawing total emolument exceeding Rs. 5000/- per annum was liable to pay income tax. Today, any employee at the lowest rung of any government department earns more than double the amount per month without paying any tax. We reached at the dead-end of the road. The prospect of losing about two month’s equivalent of my earnings swept a twinge of dejection over me. I sank into gloom of wilting mood. Suddenly, a Eureka moment popped up: why not forge the signature? Drills of copying the exact turn and twist of the doctor’s stroke followed. Several attempts made me fit to put the ‘authentic’ signature on the document, making it a breeze to pass through. And I got the claim.

This is how I became an expert in forgery. If you need any help please don’t hesitate to contact me.