Amid concerns over misappropriation of funds, wasteful expenditures and lack of accountability by District Councils in the State, Meghalaya Governor Satyapal Malik has asked the State government to launch an inquiry into the non-submission of accounts by District Councils for the past few years and non-tabling of the CAG reports by the councils.
It may be noted that the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) had on June 8 sent a letter to the Governor regarding the non-submission of accounts by District Councils over a period of few successive years and non-tabling of the CAG reports by the councils.
The Governor yesterday had a verbal telephonic conversation on the matter with Chief Minister Conrad Sangma. He also sent a formal letter to Sangma urging him to personally and urgently intervene on the matter and ensure timely and correct preparation of accounts by the District Councils.
The Governor also reiterated that if required and in consultation with the chief minister, an enquiry could also be conducted on the lapses in the District Councils “if they do not comply”.
It may be mentioned that the CAG in his letter to the Governor has pointed out that two accounts of Khasi Hills Autonomous District Autonomous Council (KHADC), three accounts of Jaintia Hills Autonomous District Autonomous Council (JHADC) and five accounts of Garo Hills Autonomous District Autonomous Council (GHADC) are still pending for submission as on December 31, 2021.
The GHADC has not submitted its accounts from 2016-17 to 2020-21, the JHADC has not submitted its accounts from 2018-19 to 2020-21 while the KHADC has not submitted its accounts for 2019-20 and 2020-21.
The CAG also stated that it had informed Chief Secretary Rebecca V. Suchiang regarding the deficiencies in the District Councils on March 17 besides informing the Chief Executive Members (CEMs) of the three District Councils on March 23 and Chief Minister Conrad Sangma on March 30 but no action was taken by any of the authorities.
According to the CAG’s letter to the Governor, the accounts of the District Councils have to be maintained in the prescribed format which are then audited by the CAG teams as per Para7(3) of the Sixth Schedule.
Further, the CAG said that the audit reports are either not tabled or tabled belatedly and are not discussed in the House to escape the desired scrutiny and executive accountability.
