Irregular submission of accounts draws CAG flak

SHILLONG, April 1: As perennial a problem the timely submission of grants utilisation certificates has been for Meghalaya, the Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) has once again churned the state government after it noted various instances of non-observance of financial rules and procedures and absence of financial controls in the state’s finances, thereby recommending the Finance department to consider evolving a system to expedite the process of compilation and submission of Annual Accounts by government bodies, authorities, autonomous bodies and PSUs in order to have a realistic and timely assessment of their financial position.
In its report, the CAG pointed out that as on March 31, 2022, as many as 307 utilisation certificates for an amount of Rs 2,373.52 crore were not submitted. “Since huge pendency in submission of UCs is fraught with the risk of fraud and misappropriation of funds, the state government should monitor this aspect closely and not only hold the concerned persons accountable for submission of UCs in a timely manner to the Finance department as well as Principal Accountant General (A&E) but review disbursement of further grants to defaulting departments,” the CAG said in the report.
As per the report, 35 DCC bills amounting to Rs 24.50 crore were outstanding and the major defaulter in this regard is the Election department where AC bills of Rs 3.25 crore (72.22 per cent) remained outstanding as of March 31, 2022.
Stating that in the absence of annual accounts and their audit, proper utilisation of grants and loans disbursed to bodies and authorities and their accounting cannot be assured, the CAG said, “ …annual accounts of three autonomous bodies were outstanding since 2016-17 and accounts of ADCs for two to six years. Similarly, as on 30 September 2022, 35 accounts of 20 working PSEs (Public Sector Enterprises) were in arrears for one to six years”.
Referring to the arrears in different accounts for the fiscal 2021-22, the CAG report said this requires urgent intervention at the highest level in order to have a realistic and timely assessment of the financial position and review of financial assistance to these bodies, authorities and PSUs.
The report also stated that there were also 72 instances of theft, misappropriation and loss involving government money amounting to Rs 113.87 lakh.
Further, the CAG stated that an accountability framework for submission of UCs in a timely manner to the Finance department and PAG (A&E) may be put in place.
“Disbursal of grants to departments may strictly be linked to submission UCs. The Finance Department should, in consultation with the Principal Accountant General (A&E), conduct a comprehensive review of all items presently appearing under Minor Head 800 and ensure that all such receipts and expenditure are in future booked under the appropriate heads of account,” the report stated.