Incomplete, factually incorrect replies submitted to panels causing embarrassment to govt: Haryana finance dept

Indian Express

3 days ago

The Haryana government's finance department has directed all top bureaucrats and heads of departments to furnish correct and timely replies and 'implement/ settle' issues raised by the Haryana Vidhan Sabha's Public Accounts Committee (PAC), Committee on Public Undertakings (COPU) and the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG).
The department also raised concerns on the 'incomplete, factually incorrect replies' submitted to the committees that cause 'unnecessary embarrassment to the government'.
In the instructions issued last week, the department mentioned that it has come to its notice that 'according to the 91 PAC report, there are 1,653 recommendations awaiting final implementation or settlement'. Similarly, the '71st COPU of Vidhan Sabha's report indicates that there are 265 recommendations awaiting final implementation/ settlement'.
The department mentioned that the committees have taken a serious view of the delay resulting in huge pendency, which need settlement at the earliest. 'Non-compliance of these instructions not only pile up the arrears of the recommendations/paras of PAC/COPU Reports but also hampers the work of PAC/COPU causing unnecessary embarrassment to the government,' the finance department mentioned.
Reiterating its previous instructions, the FD wrote that 'an officer of the rank of under-secretary or above was to be appointed nodal officer by each department to ensure furnishing of action taken notes on the paras of CAG reports and action taken reports on PAC/COPU recommendations and replies in respect of matters relating to audit within the prescribed time limit. If nodal officer has not yet been appointed, the same may now be appointed and the information in respect of their names, posts/designation, telephone numbers etc. be intimated to Vidhan Sabha, principal accountant general (audit) and Finance Department within 7 days of receipt of this letter.
In case of transfer of nodal officer, his charge be handed over to other officer and the information thereof be also conveyed to the concerned authorities. The nodal officers will be held responsible to get the replies sent within prescribed time limit in respect of all audit matters. In case of default action would be initiated against them.'
The FD also wrote that 'it is a matter of regret that the departments are not adhering to the recommendations of Shakdhar Committee already accepted by the Haryana government and forwarded to all administrative secretaries, which emphasise that the replies of all the paras must be sent from the level of the administrative departments within a period of three months regarding action taken by the concerned department towards settlement of audit objections/ paras in the prescribed Proforma'.
Issuing detailed instructions to the concerned officers, the FD mentioned, 'Replies of all the draft paras are required to be sent to the Principal Accountant General (Audit), Haryana within a stipulated period of six weeks by the Administrative Department itself and not by any subordinate office. Evidence/examination by the Committees should not be got postponed in any circumstance. The Administrative Secretaries are requested to attend the meetings as and when desired by the PAC/COPU/Estimates Committees.'
Talking about the cases of misappropriation, defalcation etc, the FD said, 'Cases of misappropriation, defalcation etc. brought to the notice of the departments by principal accountant general must be investigated and decided quickly.
'The material being sent to the PAC/COPU/Estimates Committee should be neat, clear and legible without any grammatical/spelling mistakes. Hindi and English version both should be sent. The material should be sent in time and not on the 11th hour,' the FD's instructions mentioned adding that the replies should be submitted in the prescribed proformas only and added that 'the quarterly progress reports should be sent by July 15, October 15, January 15th and April 15th without any delay to the PAC/ COPU'.