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CAG eyes early reports

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Our Regional Bureau Ahmedabad
Last Updated : Feb 06 2013 | 8:07 AM IST
Comptroller and Auditor General of India V N Kaul said in Ahmedabad on Thursday that the department will look at the possibility of tabling audit reports of various departments earlier than the present practice.
 
He, however, added that while tabling of CAG reports is not the issue, the problem is that state governments must expedite action on the reports in the form of debate on the reports or action against erring officials.
 
It may be said that although the CAG report for Gujarat for 2002-03 was handed over to the government a year ago, it was tabled in the Gujarat assembly only in the current budget session. The CAG has also submitted its report on Gujarat for 2003-04, but this is yet to be tabled.
 
"Gujarat is doing relatively far better compared with other states as far as taking action on the CAG report is concerned. However, there is a need for governments to expedite tabling of CAG reports and also initiating action based on the findings," he said.
 
In reply to a question on public sector undertakings (PSUs) in the state, Kaul said that of the 34 PSU, 13 are shut.
 
"There have been instances where the CAG report on a particular PSU has not been discussed for five or six years after being submitted," he said.
 
Asked if there was a need to submit the CAG report to an independent agency such as the Central Bureau of Investigation, which can initiate action on its own against erring officials named in the report, Kaul said he did not see any such need.
 
"We are considering a proposal of compiling and presenting the reports much earlier. But one must appreciate that there are over 8,000 audit findings that have to be prepared every year. However, with best technology at our disposal, the department could table reports earlier," Kaul said.
 
Earlier, inaugurating a new housing complex for CAG employees, Kaul said that the quality of accounting determines the quality of accountability in the country and so the department has adopted the best technology available even while carrying out a programme to train employees and equip them with the latest accounting techniques.

 
 

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First Published: Mar 04 2005 | 12:00 AM IST

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