Summary:
Ahmedabad, Sep 29 (PTI) The Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) has pointed several flaws in the financial practices of the Gujarat government and suggested that the state formulate "realistic budgets based on reliable assumptions of the needs".
The "State Finance Audit Report of the CAG for the year ended March 31, 2020" was tabled on the floor of the Gujarat Assembly on Tuesday, the last day of the two-day Monsoon Session.
"As per Gujarat Budget Manual-1983, no expenditure can be incurred under any Head without budget provision or in anticipation of a supplementary grant or appropriation....in two cases, expenditure in excess of Rs 1 crore was incurred (totalling Rs 11.07 crore) during 2019-20 without budget provision," the CAG noted.
Expenditure without budget provision is a violation of financial regulations as well as "the will of the Legislature" and indicates "lack of financial discipline", the CAG said.
The national auditor also found out that the government"s accounts do not reflect funds flow of 14,273 Gram Panchayats, such as opening balances, receipts and disbursements.
This means these Gram Panchayats were maintaining their accounts in Scheduled Banks (outside Government Accounts), it said.