Pune, 16th July 2026: Allegations of employees paying lakhs of rupees to return to their previous posts after receiving promotions have sparked controversy within the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC). The claims have emerged even as hundreds of civic employees continue to wait for long-pending promotions.

The PMC has 16,369 sanctioned posts, of which only 8,328 are currently filled, leaving nearly half the positions vacant. Employees in Class III and Class IV categories become eligible for promotions after completing the required years of service.

However, delays in administrative decisions mean many employees wait for years and, in some cases, retire without receiving their due promotions.

While many employees continue to seek promotions, some who receive them reportedly request to return to their earlier positions within a year. They generally cite reasons such as increased workload, health concerns, or difficulty balancing work and personal life. Once approved, they are relieved from the promoted post and reinstated in their previous role.

According to officials, this trend is more common among Class III and Class IV employees. Since the promotion waiting list remains valid for one year, the next eligible employee on the list is offered the vacancy created after a promoted employee steps down.

Administrative sources have claimed that some employees willingly accept lower salaries by returning to their old posts because they allegedly receive financial benefits through unofficial deals. It is alleged that transactions worth several lakh rupees take place to facilitate such 'demotion' requests, while official records mention personal or health-related reasons.

There is also discussion within the civic administration that employees who give up promotions become eligible again after two years, creating opportunities for repeated financial gains. However, no documentary evidence has been made public to support these allegations.