"The Director General of ITBP force accorded 19 split sanctions between June 2010-March 2011 for an aggregate value of Rs 4.72 crore. Each sanction was limited within the financial powers of Rs 25 lakh purportedly to avoid the necessity of referring the matter to the ministry...Thus undermining its authority," the Comptroller and Auditor General recorded in its report for year ending March, 2011.
The ITBP, a force under the Home Ministry, guards the 3,488 km Sino-Indian frontier besides undertaking a host of other internal security duties.
The CAG report stated that ITBP "procured computer systems, software and related accessories between June 2010 and March 2011 for its various field units to meet their operational and training requirements. Audit observed that the procurements were staggered to limit each purchase within the authorised ceiling of the DG ITBP. The DG accorded 19 split sanctions between June 2010 and March 2011 for an aggregate value of Rs 4.72 crore.
"Each sanction was limited within the financial powers of Rs 25 lakh, purportedly to avoid the approval of the Ministry. The amount incurred on each occasion was extremely close to the authorised limit. In 18 cases, the sanctioned amounts ranged between Rs 24.82 lakh and Rs 24.99 lakh," it said.
On this being underlined by audit, the CAG said, "the Directorate General of ITBP stated in June 2011 that sanctions had been accorded as the requirements were extremely urgent and the rate contract was expiring within a few days. It also stated that it had noted the audit observation for future compliance."
The CAG stated that "the reply is not convincing as compliance with established rules and procedures should not have been compromised on the grounds of urgency.
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"The fact remains that there were multiple sanctions for procurements that were purportedly staggered to avoid the necessity of referring the matter to the Ministry, thus undermining its authority."
The report added that the matter was referred to the Ministry in December last year and its reply was "awaited as of May 2012."