SRINAGAR: The Finance Department of the Government of Jammu and Kashmir has issued a circular directing strict measures to safeguard government bank accounts from fraud arising due to improper communication details.
According to the circular issued by the Directorate General of Accounts and Treasuries, concerns have been raised following a communication from the Ministry of Finance, Government of India (D.O. No. 7/24/2026-BOA-I dated April 7, 2026). The communication highlighted instances of fraud in government accounts caused by vulnerabilities in the management of contact details maintained in bank records.
The circular noted that in several cases, email IDs linked to government accounts were not official government domain addresses. Such lapses, it said, create risks of unauthorised changes, compromise of communication channels, and potential financial loss.
To address these concerns, the government has issued clear instructions to all Treasury Officers, Drawing and Disbursing Officers (DDOs), Single Nodal Agency (SNA) operators, and authorised signatories
As per the directions, only official government domain email IDs must be registered and maintained in bank records for all government accounts. Any existing personal or non-official email IDs must be immediately reviewed and replaced with authorised government email IDs.
The circular further mandates periodic verification of registered contact details, including email IDs and mobile numbers, to ensure their accuracy and authenticity. It also directs that any request for changes in communication details must undergo robust internal authorisation and verification procedures.
The Finance Department emphasised that these measures are critical to safeguarding public funds and strengthening the integrity of financial operations. All departments and subordinate offices have been instructed to ensure strict compliance and wide circulation of these directions.
The circular, issued under No. DGAT/Adm/7882915/PS/DR/ dated April 17, 2026, has been circulated to senior officials across the Union Territory, including administrative secretaries, police, judiciary, and heads of departments for implementation.
