Constant stand taken by ‘Excelsior’ through these columns about making periodic audits of all Government departments, PSUs , Corporations etc mandatory, stands vindicated with the decision of the Government to implement a structured framework for the same. Needless to mention, whenever we expressed our views in respect of various forms of financial irregularities, scams and frauds detected in various departments , we urged the Government to start a non-optional process of audits and surprise inspections to detect in time, acts of omissions and commissions so as to avert financial loss to the public exchequer. It was also suggested that the cost of conducting such audits would be negligible as compared to losses suffered in its absence. It is surprising as also intriguing as to why such a system had not been as a shadow mode of checks and balances of the functioning of the UT departments so far although a Directorate of Audits and Inspections was created in 1996. The long period of 24 years of the functioning of the Directorate could be adjudged far from satisfactory, may be due to insufficient infrastructure and limited powers and functioning.
However, wheneverany audit was conducted under compelling circumstances or otherwise, why audit notes and reports were kept pending and not replied and rectifications effected or an action, if beyond the scope of rectification, not taken as warranted. Even the audit reports and notes of the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India had not been replied in time or not attended to and replied at all. Not only that, audit and inspection reports of various departments by the Accountant General of India had not been attended to unless continuously followed by the personnel there-from after even physically visiting the defaulting offices.
The decision , now taken by the UT Government , the first of its kind, the audits under a proper structured framework within a time bound manner augurs very well in terms of preventing financial irregularities and fixing of accountability and identifying responsibilities. A financial discipline , following of laid down procedures, interpreting in correct form and following the financial code and manuals meticulously and without any deviations and facing audits on due dates or otherwise, alone could entrench in the system a healthy and transparent working. It is heartening to note that the Government order lays emphasis on not only audits but post audit findings and reports which are now sought to be attended to within fixed timelines which in commercial and financial circles, generally, is to be done within a month including setting right the irregularities. Shifting to e-audit in a phased manner within the next three years is a welcome step but we would like to add, physical verification of, for example inventories, assets, fixtures, cash at hand and other verifications have got to be done manually. The two need to be in asynergy for better results and monitoring. It is again a commendable decision to set up Monitoring and Follow -up Cells which were going to produce results even beyond expectations provided, again, the entire process was accorded utmost importance.
Unless it is well enumerated as to on what parameters and in reference to which guidelines, an audit was to be conducted , audit and inspections manuals formulated, code books formulated , standardised formats for audits formulated , professional standards marked and outlined by the audit teams, and other allied procedural inputs incorporated in the entire process, the outcome would be virtually a zilch . It is again a matter of satisfaction that the Govt was attending to all these prerequisites to make the audit process productive, fruitful, effective and yielding expected results . Let us expect a spectacular change in enforcing proper financial discipline and adequate transparency and accountability in the Government departments , Public Sector Undertakings, Statutory Authorities, Government corporations and other entities receiving Government funds and budgeted allocations or being otherwise under the administrative control of the Government.
Trending Now
E-Paper
Follow our WhatsApp channel