Tag: CAG

CAG Picks Holes In Implementation Of SBM Scheme In JK

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SRINAGAR: The Comptroller and Auditor General of India has revealed irregularities in implementation of Swaach Bharat (Urban) Mission scheme in Jammu and Kashmir.
In its report tabled in the Parliament, CAG said that only ten percent Individual Household Latrines (IHHLs) constructed under the scheme were found functional.
The compliance audit of two components under Swachh Bharat Mission (U) that includes individual household latrines (IHHLs) and public toilets (PTs), was carried out covering the period from 2016-17 to 2020-21.
The auditor noticed that the ULBs had not carried out house-to-house survey to identify beneficiaries for providing IHHLs.
“Progress of work was not closely monitored and no monitoring reports were on record. Beneficiary survey and physical verification of selected 942 IHHLs shown constructed by NGOs revealed that only 95 (10 per cent) were functional,” the report states.
The auditor has also pointed out that doubtful payment of Rs 116.48 lakh was made to NGOs in respect of construction of IHHLs and there was unproductive expenditure of Rs 91.30 lakh in respect of 522 IHHLs.
“Out of 173 physically verified PTs, 108 PTs were incomplete, abandoned or non-functional,” the report states.
The Government of India (GoI) launched the flagship scheme of Swachh Bharat Mission (Urban) on October 02, 2014 with the objective of making urban India 100 percent free from open defecation in areas falling under the Urban Local Bodies in the country by October 2019.

SBM, Urban (U) is being implemented by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, Government of India (MoH&UA) and Housing and Urban Development (H&UDD), Government of Jammu and Kashmir.
SBM (U) has various components and is funded by the Government of India (GoI) and the State Government on 90:10 basis.

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( With inputs from : kashmirlife.net )

March 30, 2023
JK’s Hydroelectric Project Progress Disappoints, Says CAG Report

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SRINAGAR: In what could raise questions on J&K Government’s capacity to harness water resources, the Comptroller and Auditor General of India has revealed that only 10 micro/mini/small hydel power projects with the capacity of 79.75 MWs (five percent) have been commissioned in Jammu & Kashmir against 374 identified project sites with power generation capacity of 1,725.53 MWs.
According to the auditor’s findings on the progress of micro/mini/small hydroelectric projects in Jammu and Kashmir, only 10 projects with a total capacity of 79.75 MWs (five percent) have been commissioned out of the 374 identified project sites capable of generating 1,725.53 MWs. The report further indicates that these projects faced time overruns ranging from four months to over seven years.
“While no action was taken for 225 sites (60 per cent) after their identification, bids were invited for 115 sites (31 per cent) only. No response was received for 70 sites and out of 45 sites awarded for development of hydro power projects, 32 IPPs either failed to fulfil commitments like obtaining statutory clearances for execution of projects or did not deposit upfront premium or the allotment of projects was terminated due to land issues, slow progress and techno economic viability reasons,” reads the report.
The audit also pointed out that Jammu & Kashmir couldn’t avail Rs 2000 crore proposed for the development of small hydroelectric projects under the Prime Minister’s Development Package announced in 2015.
“For 20 sites proposed under Prime Minister’s Development Package (PMDP), GoI had not acceded to the request of the Government of J&K for the release of funds. The project “Implementation of Small Hydro power projects” with provision Rs 2,000 crore was sanctioned (November 2015) under PMDP. The Board of Directors (BoD) of JKPDC in its 73rd meeting (October 2017) accorded approval for implementation of 20 projects through EPC mode to be funded under PMDP as well as funds to be arranged by Power Development Department subject to their viability vis-à-vis evacuation of power. The request of Government of J&K for release of funds under PMDP was not acceded by GoI in view of high project cost and unviable tariff of these 20 projects as a result the JKPDC could not avail assistance from GoI,” the report states.

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( With inputs from : kashmirlife.net )

March 30, 2023
CAG points out several flaws in Gujarat govt’s financial management

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Gandhinagar: The Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) has pointed out several flaws in the financial practices of the Gujarat government and said there was a need to formulate a realistic budget based on the needs of the departments.
The “State Finance Audit Report of the CAG for the year ended March 31, 2022” was tabled on the floor of the Gujarat Assembly on Wednesday, the last day of the month-long budget session.
Pointing out that financial accounts of 2021-22 were “affected” as capital expenditure was overstated and revenue expenditure understated, the CAG said, “The state government needs to formulate a realistic budget based on the needs of the departments and their capacity to utilise the allocated resources.”
“An appropriate control mechanism may be instituted by the government to enforce proper implementation and monitoring of budget so that large savings within the grant or appropriation are controlled, and anticipated savings are identified and surrendered within the specified timeframe,” it added.
The national auditor observed that though departments demand additional funds for different schemes and activities; they “finally end up spending less than the original budget provision and the supplementary provision or parts thereof. As a result, the unutilised funds cannot be made use of”.
The CAG noted that some departments could not utilise more than 50 per cent of the original provision (Rs 50 crore or more), leading to savings of Rs 3,528.83 crore at the end of the year in 21 schemes.
As per the Gujarat Budget Manual-1983, rush of expenditure, particularly in the closing months of the financial year, is a breach of financial propriety, the CAG said.
However, the CAG report revealed that expenditures in March were significantly higher than that of other months during the financial year 2021-22.

In some cases, CAG noted that 50 per cent of the total expenditure for a particular work was spent in March, while nominal funds were spent in the three previous quarters.
The CAG also noted that under 124 sub-heads, 100 per cent expenditure (Rs 4,747.17 crore) was incurred in March 2022.
“Thus, contrary to the spirit of financial regulation, substantial expenditure was incurred by the state government at the end of the financial year, indicating inadequate control over expenditure and poor budgetary management,” it added.
The CAG found a major flaw in the allocation of funds by the Health and Family Welfare Department in running “HLT 29 Epidemics Diseases Programme” in the state.
Though non-communicable diseases (NCD) do not come under epidemics, a provision of Rs 50 lakh was made under HLT 29 for NCD in 2019-20, 2020-21 and in 2021-22.
“Similarly, a budget provision of Rs 20 lakh was made under HLT 29 for Thalassemia every year during 2019-20, 2020-21 and 2021-22 though it is not an epidemics/communicable disease. Provision for NCD and Thalassemia could have been made under the general planning instead of under HLT 29 epidemics,” said the CAG.
The CAG also pulled up the Finance Department over the issue of “non-submission of information as well as accounts regarding grants and loans paid to various institutions”.
“Non-submission of 4,563 Utilisation Certificates amounting to Rs 10,309.47 crore within the specified period not only weaken the financial accountability mechanism but also indicate failure of the departmental officers to comply with the rules and procedures to ensure timely utilisation of grant for the intended purpose,” it said.
Non-submission of accounts by autonomous bodies and authorities violated the prescribed financial rules and directives. These point to inadequate internal controls and deficient monitoring mechanisms of the state government, the report said.
The CAG further suggested that the “state government needs to institute a rigorous monitoring mechanism to ensure that the Departments comply with the prescribed rules and procedures regarding submission of utilisation certificates”.
According to the CAG, Article 205 of the Constitution of India states that no money shall be drawn from the Consolidated Fund except under appropriation made by law by the state legislature.
However, “excess expenditure of Rs 14,367 crore pertaining to the period from 2007-08 to 2011-12 and 2013-14 to 2021-22 had escaped legislative oversight, as it was pending regularisation as per Article 205”, the auditor noted, adding that excess expenditure over provision vitiates the system of budgetary and financial control.
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( With inputs from www.siasat.com )

March 29, 2023
SKUAST Plagued By Favoritism, Irregular Appointments: CAG

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SRINAGAR: The Comptroller and Auditor General of India has reported a series of irregularities in recruitment, promotions and allowances in Jammu and Kashmir’s two prestigious agricultural varsities- SKUAST (Kashmir) and SKUAST (Jammu).
The CAG has said that the human resource function of the universities was far from satisfactory and was plagued by irregular appointments, favoritism and inadmissible financial up-gradations.
In its report, which was tabled in the Parliament on Tuesday, the CAG has exposed wrongdoings by the SKUAST authorities in appointments, promotions and entitlements over the years, raising serious questions over silence on JK’s successive regimes over their affairs.
In the report, the auditor pointed out that both universities violated UGC norms for the direct appointment of teachers and filled these posts through lateral entry.
“Relaxing the minimum standards for appointments and promotions of teachers compromised the quality of teaching and research in the universities while the lateral entry to teaching positions from lower technical positions deprived the university of availing the benefits of recruiting meritorious teachers through open advertisements. Extension of undue benefits due to excess drawl of pay, allowances and entitlements led to financial strain on the state coffers,” the report states.
The CAG noticed cases of appointments without adoption of mandatory academic performance indicators, appointments without mandatory NET qualification, appointments by counting inadmissible periods in teaching experience and appointments through lateral entry by irregular up-gradation of technical posts.
The UGC regulations 2010 prescribed a Performance Based Appraisal System (PBAS) with specific Academic Performance Indicators (API) for the appointment and promotion of teachers.
“During the intervening period between January 2011 (due date of implementation of UGC regulations) and July 2017, SKUAST-J appointed 31 assistant professors, 14 associate professors and seven professors on the basis of a self-devised format with respective weight age of 30 percent, 40 percent and 50 percent given to interview up to 2014 and 30 percent thereafter against the prescribed weight age of only 20 percent. In a similar manner, SKUAST-K appointed 68 assistant professors, four associate professors and two professors on the basis, during the period between January 2011 to July 2017,” the report states.

The auditor has remarked that in absence of PBAS, the teaching, learning, professional development, research and academic contribution of the candidates remained un-assessed.
Pointing out to more illegalities in appointments, the CAG report states that out of the 31 assistant professors/junior scientists appointed between the year 2011 and 2017, seven did not possess the minimum eligibility of NET-something which is necessary for these posts as per University Grants Commission and Indian Council for Agriculture Research (ICAR).

“In SKUAST-J, 31 assistant professors/ junior Scientists and 13 SMSs were appointed between the years 2011 and 2017. Out of the 31 assistant professors/ junior scientists, seven did not possess the minimum eligibility of NET. The selection committee had recommended these cases subject to obtaining certificates from the candidates that their PhD degree was as per UGC regulations, 2009. The requisite certificates, though called for, were neither produced to audit nor available on record. In eight out of 44 appointments, the representative from the state government was not present in the meeting of the selection committee. Thus, the oversight mechanism of government was not availed by SKUAST-J in respect of these appointments,” reads the report.
Audit further noticed that the Agriculture Universities had not specified any norm regarding the minimum number of applications required for holding an interview.
“Records show that in 29 cases, interviews were conducted when applications received were less than three and in eight cases interviews were conducted when there was only one candidate,” the report states.
The audit noticed that in respect of six associate professors (SKUAST-J: 04, SKUASTK: 02) appointed between January 2004 and November 2015, time spent on acquiring PhD, service rendered as guest lecturer, adhoc/ consolidated service and as visiting scientist was included in teaching experience of seven/ eight years required for appointment of associate professors.
The auditor has found that the appointment of teaching posts through lateral entry caused a financial burden of Rs 10.16 crore to state exchequer.
The report states that Agriculture Universities irregularly upgraded 10 senior technical assistants in SKUAST-J and 45 STAs in SKUAST-K, to entry level UGC pay scales of assistant professors.
“Even requirement of two years of service arbitrarily fixed by the Universities for up-gradation was not followed as one STA of SKUAST-K was prematurely designated (February 1998) as assistant professor after completing only four months of service as STA which led to further future up-gradations and resulted in excess payment of ₹ 0.30 crore. Further, one STA in SKUAST-K was placed in the next higher pay scale before successful completion of probation with the result he was prematurely designated as assistant professor leading to further placement in higher scales under CAS. This had resulted in excess payment of Rs 0.26 crore,” the report further states.
The CAG has observed that by upgrading non-teaching staff to teaching positions, the Agriculture Universities had restricted competition and denied opportunities to aspiring meritorious candidates to apply for teaching posts, and compromised quality of teaching in such cases as minimum standards prescribed for appointment of teachers had not been maintained.
“Against the requirement of five publications for professors, the Universities stipulated a requirement of only three publications. Submission of publications for assessment of eminent experts before interview was also not ensured by the Universities. The Universities had thus avoided the methodology prescribed in the UGC regulations for CAS, which defeated the purpose of PBAS,” the report states.
It further says the move rendered promotion of 122 associate professors (62 in SKUAST-J and 60 in SKUAST-K) to professors in the Universities irregular.
The audit noticed cases of premature placements in next higher grade pay without completion of prescribed residency periods. “Against the minimum residency period of five years required for placement in next higher Grade pay of ₹ 8,000, 17 assistant professors (SKUAST-J: 05; SKUAST-K: 12) were placed (between August 2010 and July 2017) in the higher grade and designated as associate professors prematurely after completing service ranging between two years and four years eight months only,” the report states.
Audit scrutiny of service records of 557 non-teaching employees out of a total of 1,794 revealed cases of recruitments through regularisation of adhoc/ contractual employees, appointments without qualifying mandatory tests, direct recruitments to posts required to be filled through promotion, lateral entry to sts prescribed to be filled through direct recruitment etc.
“Audit noticed that out of 557 cases checked in audit, 112 (SKUAST J: 31; SKUAST-K: 81) personnel were initially engaged (between March 1992 and November 2010) either on adhoc or contractual basis for a period of 89 days. Their period of their engagement was extended from time to time. These adhoc/ contractual employees were regularised (2015) without advertising the post,” the report states.
The auditor has also pointed towards the dearth of manpower, both teaching and non-teaching, in Agriculture Universities of J&K.
“In SKUAST-J, the shortfall ranged between 26 and 33 per cent under the teaching category and 19 and 26 per cent under the non-teaching category during the period. Similarly, shortage of manpower in SKUAST-K ranged between 22 and 33 percent under teaching category and 29 and 32 per cent under non-teaching category during 2016-21,” the report states. (KNO)

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( With inputs from : kashmirlife.net )

March 29, 2023
CAG Pulls Up JK Bank For Hiring Broadway Hotel For Its Operations

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SRINAGAR: The Comptroller and Auditor General of India has pulled up the Jammu & Kashmir Bank for incurring a wasteful expenditure of Rs 5.28 crore by hiring hotel Broadway in Srinagar, which was not used at all for its operations.
In its report tabled in the Parliament on Tuesday, the CAG said that the Bank entered into a lease agreement with the M/s Broad Way Enterprises Private Limited (firm) in December 2017 and March 2019 for hiring of space in Hotel Broadway for the opening of High Net worth Individual (HNI) Branch and housing its International Banking Division (IBD), respectively, at a monthly rent of Rs 150 per square feet.
It hired the space for housing its International Banking Division (IBD) citing space constraints at the existing premises at Air Cargo Complex, Srinagar. The Bank also placed a work order at a cost of Rs two crore for development of the hired premises in February 2019.
According to the CAG report, the Bank, however, in January 2020 decided to de-hire the premises due to a host of reasons. “The Bank, however, decided (January 2020) to de-hire the premises on the ground that shifting of IBD would not translate into phenomenal growth of foreign exchange business as the forex business in Srinagar was limited. Further, the yearly rental outflow was considered very high vis-à-vis the business opportunities in the opening of HNI branch due to prevailing situation in Kashmir region,” the report states.
“By the time the Bank de-hired (June 2020) premises, it had incurred expenditure of Rs 3.78 crore towards rent and Rs 2.43 crore on the development of the premises. Out of Rs 2.43 crore, an amount of Rs 1.47 crore was spent on civil interior, furniture items that either could not be dismantled or were dismantled with substantial/ major damages. The dismantlement work was carried out (August 2020) at a cost of Rs 2.99 lakh,” it further states.
The CAG has questioned why the Bank hired space in the hotel despite the fact that it had hired already premises for the opening of it at Barzulla, Srinagar and was operating IBD at Air Cargo Complex, Srinagar having sufficient space at the monthly rate of ₹ 75 per sq. ft. and ₹ 85 per sq. ft., respectively.
“Moreover, the decision to open HNI branch and shift IBD at Hotel Broadway may be viewed in light of the fact that the Bank sanctioned (September 2016) a term loan of Rs 48.98 crore in favour of the lesson for renovation of existing hotel building and construction of new building and the term loan was eventually classified (January 2020) as Non-Performing Asset as the lessor could not service the account,” the report further states.
In its reply, the management of the Jammu & Kashmir Bank stated in March 2022, owing to sluggish market patterns and slow growth in overall banking sector, it decided to implement various measures to bring down the cost to income ratio and one of the measure was to vacate the premises in order to cut the costs on account of rental.

“However, the fact remains that the Bank hired the premises without taking cognizance of the fact that the decision to open HNI branch at Barzulla, Srinagar was already taken by the Management. Further, the limited business opportunity with regard to forex business in Srinagar was in the knowledge of the Bank as most of the customers were already dealing with it,” the CAG pointed out. (KNO)

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( With inputs from : kashmirlife.net )

March 29, 2023
CAG pulls up J&K Bank for hiring Broadway hotel for its operations

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Srinagar, Mar 29: The Comptroller and Auditor General of India has pulled up the Jammu & Kashmir Bank for incurring a wasteful expenditure of Rs 5.28 crore by hiring hotel Broadway in Srinagar, which was not used at all for its operations.
In its report tabled in the Parliament on Tuesday, a copy of which is in possession of news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), the CAG said that the Bank entered into a lease agreement with the M/s Broad Way Enterprises Private Limited (firm) in December 2017 and March 2019 for hiring of space in Hotel Broadway for the opening of High Net worth Individual (HNI) Branch and housing its International Banking Division (IBD), respectively, at a monthly rent of Rs 150 per square feet.
It hired the space for housing its International Banking Division (IBD) citing space constraints at the existing premises at Air Cargo Complex, Srinagar. The Bank also placed a work order at a cost of Rs two crore for development of the hired premises in February 2019.
According to the CAG report, the Bank, however, in January 2020 decided to de-hire the premises due to a host of reasons. “The Bank, however, decided (January 2020) to de-hire the premises on the ground that shifting of IBD would not translate into phenomenal growth of foreign exchange business as the forex business in Srinagar was limited. Further, the yearly rental outflow was considered very high vis-à-vis the business opportunities in the opening of HNI branch due to prevailing situation in Kashmir region,” the report states.
“By the time the Bank de-hired (June 2020) premises, it had incurred expenditure of Rs 3.78 crore towards rent and Rs 2.43 crore on the development of the premises. Out of Rs 2.43 crore, an amount of Rs 1.47 crore was spent on civil interior, furniture items that either could not be dismantled or were dismantled with substantial/ major damages. The dismantlement work was carried out (August 2020) at a cost of Rs 2.99 lakh,” it further states.
The CAG has questioned why the Bank hired space in the hotel despite the fact that it had hired already premises for the opening of it at Barzulla, Srinagar and was operating IBD at Air Cargo Complex, Srinagar having sufficient space at the monthly rate of ₹ 75 per sq. ft. and ₹ 85 per sq. ft., respectively.
“Moreover, the decision to open HNI branch and shift IBD at Hotel Broadway may be viewed in light of the fact that the Bank sanctioned (September 2016) a term loan of Rs 48.98 crore in favour of the lessor for renovation of existing hotel building and construction of new building and the term loan was eventually classified (January 2020) as Non-Performing Asset as the lessor could not service the account,” the report further states.
In its reply, the management of the Jammu & Kashmir Bank stated in March 2022, owing to sluggish market patterns and slow growth in overall banking sector, it decided to implement various measures to bring down the cost to income ratio and one of the measure was to vacate the premises in order to cut the costs on account of rental.

“However, the fact remains that the Bank hired the premises without taking cognizance of the fact that the decision to open HNI branch at Barzulla, Srinagar was already taken by the Management. Further, the limited business opportunity with regard to forex business in Srinagar was in the knowledge of the Bank as most of the customers were already dealing with it,” the CAG pointed out.
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( With inputs from : roshankashmir.net )

March 29, 2023
CAG Highlights Lack Of Adequate Response Of Government Departments To Audit In JK

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SRINAGAR: Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India has highlighted lack of adequate response of the government departments to audit.
“Principal Accountant General (Audit), Jammu and Kashmir, conducts audit of Government Departments to check for compliance to rules and regulations in transactions and to verify the regularity in maintenance of important accounting and other records as per the prescribed rules and procedures,” the CAG said in its latest report.
After these audits, the CAG said, Inspection Reports (IRs) are issued to the Heads of Offices inspected with copies to the next higher authorities.
“Important irregularities and other points detected during inspection, which are not settled on the spot, find place in IRs. Serious irregularities are brought to the notice of the Government by the Office of the PAG (Principal Accountant General),” the audit body said.
For speedy settlement of audit observations and inspection reports, the Jammu and Kashmir Budget manual provides for prompt response by the Executive to IRs issued by the Principal Accountant General (Audit) to ensure remedial and rectification action.
The auditee offices and their controlling Administrative Departments are required to comply with the observations contained in the IRs and rectify the defects and report their compliance to the Principal Accountant General (Audit).
“The pendency of large number of paragraphs indicates lack of adequate response of the Government Departments to Audit,” the CAG said, adding, “The Government may look into this matter and revamp the system to ensure proper response to the audit observations from the Departments in a time-bound manner.”
Three Audit Committee Meetings (ACMs) were held in Revenue Sector settling six Inspection Reports and 83 outstanding paragraphs with a money value of Rs 6.60 crore. Similarly, during the period 2020-21, four Audit Committee meetings were held in Social, General and Economic Sectors in which 101 Audit paras were settled.

“It is recommended that Government should ensure that a procedure is put in place for action against officials failing to send replies to IRs/ paragraphs as per the prescribed time schedule and recovery of losses/ outstanding advances/ overpayments, etc., in a time-bound manner” The CAG has also recommended holding at least one meeting of each Audit Committee every quarter. (GNS)

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( With inputs from : kashmirlife.net )

March 29, 2023
CAG takes lid off massive illegalities, irregularities in SKUAST recruitment, promotions

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Srinagar, Mar 29: The Comptroller and Auditor General of India has taken the lid off brazen illegalities and irregularities in recruitment, promotions and allowances in Jammu & Kashmir’s two prestigious agricultural varsities- SKUAST (Kashmir) and SKUAST (Jammu).
In its report, which was tabled in the Parliament on Tuesday as per news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), the CAG has exposed wrongdoings by the SKUAST authorities in appointments, promotions and entitlements over the years, raising serious questions over silence on J&K’s successive regimes over their affairs.
In the report, the auditor pointed out that both universities violated UGC norms for the direct appointment of teachers and filled these posts through lateral entry.
“The mandatory criteria for appointment and career advancement of teachers was diluted. Pre-mature promotions, inadmissible benefit of career advancement scheme, incorrect pay fixations, inadmissible allowances and entitlements, resulted in an extra financial burden to the government exchequer,” reads the report.
The CAG has said that the human resource function of the universities was far from satisfactory and was plagued by irregular appointments, favoritism and inadmissible financial up-gradations.
“Relaxing the minimum standards for appointments and promotions of teachers compromised the quality of teaching and research in the universities. Lateral entry to teaching positions from lower technical positions deprived the university of availing the benefits of recruiting meritorious teachers through open advertisements. Extension of undue benefits due to excess drawl of pay, allowances and entitlements led to financial strain on the state coffers,” the report states.
SKUAST was established in 1982 under a law enacted by the legislature of Jammu & Kashmir for catering to the requirement of agricultural research, education and extension education.
It was bifurcated into two universities- Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology, Kashmir (SKUAST- K ) and Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agriculture Sciences (SKUAST-J)- by virtue of an amendment in the Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology Act in 1999.

*Illegalities in appointments*
The CAG noticed cases of appointments without adoption of mandatory academic performance indicators, appointments without mandatory NET qualification, appointments by counting inadmissible periods in teaching experience and appointments through lateral entry by irregular up-gradation of technical posts.
The auditor said that though the Agriculture Universities had adopted (July 2009) the revised University Grant Commission pay scales, they notified a diluted version of the performance-based appraisal system (PBAS) for the appointment and career advancement of teachers after a gap of over six years in July 2017.
The UGC regulations 2010 prescribed a Performance Based Appraisal System (PBAS) with specific Academic Performance Indicators (API) for the appointment and promotion of teachers. “During the intervening period between January 2011 (due date of implementation of UGC regulations) and July 2017, SKUAST-J appointed 31 assistant professors, 14 associate professors and seven professors on the basis of a self-devised format with respective weightage of 30 percent, 40 percent and 50 percent given to interview up to 2014 and 30 percent thereafter against the prescribed weightage of only 20 percent. In a similar manner, SKUAST-K appointed 68 assistant professors, four associate professors and two professors on the basis, during the period between January 2011 to July 2017,” the report states.
The auditor has remarked that in absence of PBAS, the teaching, learning, professional development, research and academic contribution of the candidates remained un-assessed.
Pointing out to more illegalities in appointments, the CAG report states that out of the 31 assistant professors/junior scientists appointed between the year 2011 and 2017, seven did not possess the minimum eligibility of NET-something which is necessary for these posts as per University Grants Commission and Indian Council for Agriculture Research (ICAR).
“In SKUAST-J, 31 assistant professors/ junior Scientists and 13 SMSs were appointed between the years 2011 and 2017. Out of the 31 assistant professors/ junior scientists, seven did not possess the minimum eligibility of NET. The selection committee had recommended these cases subject to obtaining certificates from the candidates that their PhD degree was as per UGC regulations, 2009. The requisite certificates, though called for, were neither produced to audit nor available on record. In eight out of 44 appointments, the representative from the state government was not present in the meeting of the selection committee. Thus, the oversight mechanism of government was not availed by SKUAST-J in respect of these appointments,” reads the report.
Audit further noticed that the Agriculture Universities had not specified any norm regarding the minimum number of applications required for holding an interview.
“Records showed that in 29 cases, interviews were conducted when applications received were less than three and in eight cases interviews were conducted when there was only one candidate,” the report states.
The audit noticed that in respect of six associate professors (SKUAST-J: 04, SKUASTK: 02) appointed between January 2004 and November 2015, time spent on acquiring PhD, service rendered as guest lecturer, adhoc/ consolidated service and as visiting scientist was included in teaching experience of seven/ eight years required for appointment of associate professors.
The UGC regulations and University statutes stipulate that previous regular service as assistant professor or in an equivalent post should be counted for direct recruitment to the post of associate professor and time spent on acquiring PhD and as guest lecturer shall not qualify for being counted as teaching experience.
The auditor has found that the appointment of teaching posts through lateral entry caused a financial burden of Rs 10.16 crore to state exchequer.
“In violation of UGC regulations which stipulated appointment of assistant professors only through direct recruitment, the Agriculture Universities notified (1994, 2012 and 2018) Career Advancement Scheme (CAS) for technical posts stipulating promotion of non-teaching technical employees to teaching positions. While notification of 1994 specified placement of senior technical assistants (STAs) borne on University establishment as assistant professors after successful completion of two years of probation, notifications of September 2012 and July 2018 extended the benefit of scheme to technical posts of programme assistants/ TAs borne on ICAR strength,” the report lays bare.
The report states that Agriculture Universities irregularly upgraded 10 senior technical assistants in SKUAST-J and 45 STAs in SKUAST-K, to entry level UGC pay scales of assistant professors.
“Even requirement of two years of service arbitrarily fixed by the Universities for up-gradation was not followed as one STA of SKUAST-K was prematurely designated (February 1998) as assistant professor after completing only four months of service as STA which led to further future up-gradations and resulted in excess payment of ₹ 0.30 crore. Further, one STA in SKUAST-K was placed in the next higher pay scale before successful completion of probation with the result he was prematurely designated as assistant professor leading to further placement in higher scales under CAS. This had resulted in excess payment of Rs 0.26 crore,” the report further states.
The CAG has observed that by upgrading non-teaching staff to teaching positions, the Agriculture Universities had restricted competition and denied opportunities to aspiring meritorious candidates to apply for teaching posts, and compromised quality of teaching in such cases as minimum standards prescribed for appointment of teachers had not been maintained.
The audit also noticed that the Universities had compromised the standards for assessment of research achievements of candidates claiming promotion to the post of professors by diluting the criteria of quality and number of research publications.
“Against the requirement of five publications for professors, the Universities stipulated a requirement of only three publications. Submission of publications for assessment of eminent experts before interview was also not ensured by the Universities. The Universities had thus avoided the methodology prescribed in the UGC regulations for CAS, which defeated the purpose of PBAS,” the report states.
It further says the move rendered promotion of 122 associate professors (62 in SKUAST-J and 60 in SKUAST-K) to professors in the Universities irregular.
The audit noticed cases of premature placements in next higher grade pay without completion of prescribed residency periods. “Against the minimum residency period of five years required for placement in next higher Grade pay of ₹ 8,000, 17 assistant professors (SKUAST-J: 05; SKUAST-K: 12) were placed (between August 2010 and July 2017) in the higher grade and designated as associate professors prematurely after completing service ranging between two years and four years eight months only,” the report states.
Audit scrutiny of service records of 557 non-teaching employees out of a total of 1,794 revealed cases of recruitments through regularisation of adhoc/ contractual employees, appointments without qualifying mandatory tests, direct recruitments to posts required to be filled through promotion, lateral entry to posts prescribed to be filled through direct recruitment etc.
“Audit noticed that out of 557 cases checked in audit, 112 (SKUAST J: 31; SKUAST-K: 81) personnel were initially engaged (between March 1992 and November 2010) either on adhoc or contractual basis for a period of 89 days. Their period of their engagement was extended from time to time. These adhoc/ contractual employees were regularised (2015) without advertising the post,” the report states.
The auditor has also pointed towards the dearth of manpower, both teaching and non-teaching, in Agriculture Universities of J&K.
“In SKUAST-J, the shortfall ranged between 26 and 33 per cent under the teaching category and 19 and 26 per cent under the non-teaching category during the period. Similarly, shortage of manpower in SKUAST-K ranged between 22 and 33 percent under teaching category and 29 and 32 per cent under non-teaching category during 2016-21,” the report states.
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( With inputs from : roshankashmir.net )

March 29, 2023
CAG extending its outreach to include political executives

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New Delhi: The Comptroller and Auditor General of India’s outreach is now being extended to include political executives to highlight audit concerns.
“The intent is to build a shared understanding of the most pressing concerns in governance and find possible solutions,” Comptroller and Auditor General of India Girish Chandra Murmu said on Wednesday.
Murmu said that the media is a very powerful tool that adds value to society.
“In the Indian context, it has helped to disseminate the government’s plans and initiatives. As a probationer, you have to understand the perspective and vision of your department, and it should improve the country’s image in the international arena,” he said this during an orientation programme with the Officer Trainees of the Indian Information Service (IIS).
The probationers belong to three batches of 2020, 2021 and 2022.
Murmu stressed that the public has the right to access fair and objective information, whether it is about the government or otherwise.
“As officers, you should be able to guide the ministries and departments, the dignitaries and functionaries you are going to cover. Here, positioning, marketing and principles will come to play a role. The core of your training is to learn these strategies, and the soft skills to add value to you work,” he said.
Noticing that most of the officers are from engineering background, Murmu said that technical skills should be used to handle the challenges of future media, especially with emerging self-help AI tools such as ChatGPT.

He said that the trainee IIS officers should gear up to meet the challenges posed by Big Data and Artificial Intelligence.
During the Q&A session, one of the probation officers asked Murmu if the CAG, which is the guardian of the public purse, actually enables citizens to know about the government’s expenditure and receipts in an informed way.
To this, the CAG replied that there are several IEC programmes for raising awareness on social audits.
Asked whether the perception of the CAG as a paper tiger was true or not, Murmu said “the CAG audits strengthen the accountability of government projects and, thereby, upholds the ideals of democracy”.
During the day-long session, senior CAG officers took sessions to explain the working of the institution. Deputy CAG, Ila Singh, spoke on the evolution of the CAG and the different types of audits it carries out with the highest professional standards.
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( With inputs from www.siasat.com )

March 22, 2023
India’s CAG selected as external auditor of International Labour Organisation

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New Delhi: Comptroller and Auditor General of India, Girish Chandra Murmu, has been selected as External Auditor of the International Labour Organisation (ILO), Geneva for a four-year term (2024 to 2027).
The CAG will take over from the present External Auditor, Supreme Audit Institution of the Philippines. Officials said that CAG’s appointment is a recognition of its standing among the international community as well as its professionalism, high standards, global audit experience, and strong national credentials.
The ILO had formed a Selection Panel for appointment of External Auditor and invited bids from the Supreme Audit Institutions (SAIs). Based on the technical experience and other criteria, the ILO shortlisted three Supreme Audit Institutions (India, Canada and UK) for technical presentations. In Geneva, a three-member team from CAG of India presented the strengths, approach and skill set as also the vast experience of auditing international organisations to the tripartite selection panel of ILO.
Officials said that the selection panel was impressed by the CAG’s approach in developing a strategic partnership with the ILO through which it aims to assist the ILO in meeting its strategic goals while maintaining critical independence and oversight in performing the functions of the External Auditor. The panel specifically noted the relevance of the CAG’s proposed use of data analytics, risk profiling, and sampling in the audit process.
The Comptroller and Auditor General of India is currently the External Auditor of the World Health Organisation (2020-2023), the Food and Agriculture Organisation (2020-2025), the International Atomic Energy Agency (2022-2027), the Organisation for Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (2021-2023), and Inter Parliamentary Union (2020-2022).
CAG is a Member of the United Nations Panel of External Auditors. He is also a member of the Governing Boards of the International Organization of Supreme Audit Institutions (INTOSAI) and ASOSAI. CAG chairs the INTOSAI Knowledge Sharing Committee, its Working Group on IT Audit and the Compliance Audit Sub-Committee.
ILO is a UN agency, which brings together governments, employers and workers of 187 Member States, to set labour standards, develop policies and devise programmes promoting decent work for all women and men.

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( With inputs from www.siasat.com )

February 23, 2023