Finance Deptt cracks whip over fiscal indiscipline


* At the end of financial year 2013-14, various departments were yet to submit 1,14,753 utilisation certificates worth Rs 71,563 crore
By Kartik Lokhande 
After a long spell of financial indiscipline, non-submission of utilisation certificates for funds released, and indecision over action against those involved in misappropriation of funds, finally the Finance Department of Maharashtra Government has decided to act tough.
Finance Department has slammed other departments over financial indiscipline and has asked the officials of these departments to take seriously the objections raised by the office of Accountant General (AG) of Maharashtra. It has expressed strong displeasure over administrative departments not following the laid-down procedure. Drawing and Disbursing Officers of many a department have withdrawn huge amounts but have not furnished details of utilisation. As on March 31, 2014, all departments put together were yet to furnish details of utilisation of Rs 1,029.27 crore in 7,943 cases of withdrawals.
However, despite repeated reminders, most of the departments have not taken the matter seriously. Acting tough, Finance Department has asked the departments concerned to call clarification in this regard from the officers concerned within 15 days. Still, states a circular issued by Finance Department, if the officers fail to furnish details of expenditure, the departments concerned should initiate disciplinary action against them. At any cost, the departments have to furnish details of expenditure to AG office by December 31, 2014.
Further, various departments have not submitted utilisation certificates to AG office. Shockingly, as many as 1,14,753 utilisation certificates worth Rs 71,563 crore were yet to be submitted to AG office at the end of financial year 2013-14, as on March 31, 2014. Taking a serious cognisance of this, Finance Department has asked departments concerned to submit pending utilisation certificates to AG office by November 9.
Based upon the experience so far, Finance Department has asked the administrative departments to furnish statement of pending details of expenditure and corrective action taken. While furnishing the said statement, the departments will have to furnish information related to their subordinate offices also. As a matter of bringing in financial discipline, now, the departments have been asked to close down Personal Ledger Accounts opened without prior approval of Finance Department. At the start of current financial year, there were as many as 6,500 Personal Ledger Accounts of Maharashtra Government departments.
Further, the departments have been asked to surrender the funds remaining unspent at the end of financial year 2013-14. The departments concerned will have to surrender to the Government the amount of interest accrued on funds lying unspent in the banks. The current interest also will have to be deposited with the Treasury Department through challan. Henceforth, the departments have been advised not to withdraw funds from Treasury Department if not required.

‘Lodge FIR in cases of misappropriation’

Finance Department has asked the departments to lodge First Information Report against the officials concerned in cases of misappropriation of funds, and submit case-wise report. Some of such cases are pending for as long a period as 10 to 25 years. In such cases, a review must be taken at the earliest and appropriate action should be initiated to ensure speedier disposal. 

(Published in The Hitavada CityLine on October 30, 2014) 

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