| The step has been taken in the wake of the Telgi stamp paper scam, Comptroller & Auditor General V N Kaul said. |
| Kaul was in the city to inaugurate the Regional Training Institute of the Indian Audit and Accounts Department. |
| Addressing a press conference, he said that the stamp paper scam is currently limited to a few states, but it is necessary to find out if its symptoms exist in other states too. |
| The scam is being investigated by CBI. CAG, in its test inquiry, will study the findings of this investigation. This will enable it to zero in on the loopholes that may exist in the stamp vending system in states which have not been affected by the scam, Kaul said. "We will see if there is loss of revenue from stamp paper sale in other states too," he said. |
| The CAG, which audits the accounts of Central and state governments, prepares 81 reports concerning state governments and 19 reports concerning the Central government every year. Kaul conceded that compliance to these reports was not up to the level. There is a high level of pendency in some states. |
| However, steps are being taken to improve compliance. Laws and audit practices are being revamped, he said. |
| Kaul further said that state legislatures should adopt the Shakdhar Committee recommendations. One of the recommendations is that public accounts committees (PAC), which consider the CAG reports, should hold regular meetings both at the state and Central level, he said. |
| Kaul also admitted shortcomings in the accounts department's ability to quickly address public queries, especially concerning pension and PPF accounts. |
| He said computerisation will help in improving the situation to a great extent. |
| The department is also installing IVRS facility to enable a person check his account on the phone, he said. |
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