PAC awaits sub-committee report for making recommendations
Mohinder Verma
JAMMU, Sept 20: Establishing that J&K doesn’t want proper accountability and transparency in the functioning of key departments, the PDP-BJP Coalition Government has failed to initiate action on the findings of the Comptroller and Auditor General of India regarding misappropriation of crores of rupees in the Police Department during 2014 elections. Moreover, two separate enquiries ordered by Home Department and Director General of Police have failed to yield the results thereby indicating lack of seriousness in taking to task the Drawing and Disbursing Officers (DDOs) involved in the irregularities.
Following detection of misappropriation of crores of rupees by the senior officers of the Police Department having drawing and disbursing powers in the carriage of constabulary and hiring of vehicles during Parliamentary and State Assembly elections in 2014, the Accountant General Audit, J&K vide Communication No. COCHOV/2015-2016/07 dated March 28, 2016 referred the matter to the then Director General of Police along with 162-page report mentioning that CAG has found Rs 6.09 crore worth irregularities and misappropriation by Drawing and Disbursing Officers (DDOs) while utilizing the funds kept available under Security Related Expenditure (SRE).
After sleeping over the communication for three months, the then Director General of Police vide Letter No. PHQ/Acctts/2016/49 dated June 4, 2016 referred the matter to the Crime Branch for holding enquiry in the light of audit observations. It was officially stated by the head of Jammu and Kashmir Police that on the basis of Crime Branch enquiry action will be taken against the erring officers.
In the meanwhile, a parallel enquiry was ordered by the Home Department, which vide Communication No. Home/ 39/ Acctts/ 2016/ 206 dated June 16, 2016 asked the Finance Department to conduct a detailed audit of expenditure incurred on hiring of vehicles by the DDOs of the Police Department.
“What emerged during the enquiry by the Crime Branch and detailed audit by Finance Department was never revealed either by the Home Department or by the Director General of Police despite the fact that findings of CAG had brought the entire Police Department under the scanner”, official sources told EXCELSIOR while disclosing that during the audit by the Finance Department certain important aspects were found similar to those of the findings of supreme audit institution of the country.
Morally, the Home Department as well as DGP should have made public the outcome of both the enquiries so as to convey the message that they want utmost transparency and accountability in the functioning of Jammu and Kashmir Police, sources remarked.
During the audit of accounts by the Finance Department, which otherwise amounts to undermining the authority and competence of the Comptroller and Auditor General of India, the observations vis-à-vis ‘ghost vehicles’ could not be substantiated but it came to the fore that more than required number of vehicles were hired by several DDOs, which amounts to mis-utilization of MHA funds, sources said, adding there was no justification behind hiring vehicles beyond actual requirement, which in some cases was not worked out before going in for engaging of vehicles of different types.
Meanwhile, Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of Legislative Assembly headed by National Conference MLA Mohd Akbar Lone is awaiting report of the sub-committee before making necessary recommendations on the findings of the CAG.
The sub-committee headed by MLA Mohammad Yusuf Bhat was constituted by the PAC after the reply of the Home Department on the CAG Audit Paras was found unconvincing. “I will shortly convene meeting of the sub-committee for deliberations and thereafter report will be submitted to PAC for necessary action”, said Mohammad Yusuf Bhat while confirming that reply of Home Department was not found plausible by the PAC.
When contacted, Chairman of PAC Mohammad Akbar Lone said, “I will try to ensure that PAC makes its recommendations on the grave issue shortly”. “It is obvious that department put in the dock by the CAG will never accept illegalities committed by its officers despite the fact that the CAG doesn’t have any malice against any Government department or officer and its purpose is only to point out shortcomings for corrective measures”, he further said in response to a question.
“The whole exercise by the PAC is aimed at ensuring that only guilty officer(s) are taken to the task”, the Chairman said.
Despite repeated attempts on their telephone and mobile numbers to obtain their comments on the grave issue, none of the senior officers of the Home Department responded.
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