KL Report
Srinagar
Reiterating that treasuries are the financial face of the government, the Minister for Finance and Ladakh Affairs, Abdul Rahim Rather asked the Treasury Officers (TOs) to deal politely and humbly with utmost transparency with the public adding that cleaner the functioning of treasuries, the better will be the image of government among the masses. He said that since the treasuries are at the delivery point, their conduct and behaviour has direct impact about the performance of the government on the ground level.
The Minister also directed the concerned authorities of Accounts and Treasuries department to fully gear up their men and machinery for the change over to the ‘’Civil Accounting System, with effect from April 01 of current year. He said launching of the much needed independent website of Accounts and Treasuries www.jkdat.nic.in will also go a long way in bringing more transparency and accountability in functioning of the department.
As per a statement speaking at the crucial 11th reviewing meeting of the treasuries of Kashmir division held at the Banquet Hall, Srinagar, Rather on Wednesday while reminding the TOs about their most important responsibilities of being the guardians of state exchequer, called for strict observance of treasury code adding that in no case they should exceed budgetary provisions.
He said violation of treasury code especially excess payments rather than authorized budgetary allocations is a serious lapse which warrants stringent disciplinary action against defaulter including termination of his job. He warned the TOs not to submit periodic, bio-monthly accounts to the Accountant General’s Office (AG’s) with incomplete classification which hampers in accuracy of state’s accounts. “Officers indulging in mentioning of un-classified accounts to AG’s office also shall have to face stringent disciplinary action”, Rather warned.
The Accountant General (A&E), DK Bakshi, Director General Accounts and Treasuries, R Magotra, Director, J&K Funds Organization, Pushpa, Director Audit and Inspections, Manzoor Ahmad, Joint Director, Accounts and Treasuries, Altaf Hussain, Deputy Accountant General (Accounts), Darshan Lal, Vice President, J&K Bank, Deputy Commissioner Stamps, District Treasuries Officers and Treasury Officers of the Kashmir division were present in the meeting.
Rather asked the TOs not to allow accumulation of Red DC Accounts and promptly clear draft Audit Paras adding that any delay or lapse on this account would be viewed seriously. He warned the TOs need not to entertain WDC bills for advance drawals unless certification from the concerned Drawing and Disbursing Offices that Red DC account in respect of previous drawal has been submitted to the Principal Accountant General’s office. He urged for a strict monitoring mechanism to oversee this issue. ‘’In view of the recent development in cash management system, fiscal discipline and Budget control mechanism under proposed MoU between the administrative Secretary of the Finance department and the concerned Finance Minister, there shall now be a limited scope for escape from the assigned responsibilities on the officers of finance and allied departments including Accounts and Treasuries department’’, Rather added.
Rather expressed his dismay over excess pension payments though an amount of Rs. 1.29 crore has been recovered out of Rs. 2.24 crore excess pension paid by the J&K Bank to the pensioners upto ending November 2012, leaving a balance of Rs. 95 crores to be recovered. While seeking an explanation from the concerned J&K Bank Officers, the Minister directed for completing the process of verification of genuine pensioners as there are still 3400 and 3360 un-verified cases in Jammu and Kashmir divisions respectively.
He informed that a Co-ordination Committee of the AG’s Office and Accountants and Treasuries department has been constituted vide Govt. Order No. 17-F of 2013 dated January 22, 2013 to look into the common issues concerning the state for better management and accuracy of state accounts. ‘’This will be a step forward in bringing more professional efficiency in the functioning of the department and better fiscal and budget management in the state, Rather added.
The Accountant General also gave some tips to bring further improvements in the functioning of the Accounts and Treasuries department and assured all possible logical support to ensure better fiscal management in the State. He said for convenience of the employees and the government functionaries, the AG’s Office has decided to launch a special website and SMS service which will help officers and employees to get instant information and current status of their cases under process in the AG’s Office.
The Director General Accounts and Treasuries in his address said that seven new treasuries including two in Kashmir division and five in Jammu division, mostly in remote areas have been opened in the state during the current fiscal, raising the total number of treasuries in the state to 128. He said construction of treasury buildings in various areas is also underway adding that treasury building at a cost of Rs. 22.50 lakh at Gool was inaugurated recently by the Finance Minister whereas treasury buildings at Shopian, Devsar, Sogam and Bandipora in Kashmir division and Nowshera, Vijaypur, Bhaderwah and Paddar in Jammu division will also be ready for inauguration by the ending of current fiscal. He said work on Rs. 5.35 crore Hostel Block for the Accountancy Training Institute at Srinagar has also been initiated.
