Delhi Assembly Speaker Urges Chief Secretary to Act on CAG Findings
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Synopsis
Delhi Assembly Speaker Vijender Gupta emphasizes the importance of accountability and transparency, urging officials to act on CAG findings and submit Action Taken Notes, a procedure neglected during the previous AAP government’s tenure.
Key Takeaways
- Speaker Gupta called for accountability in CAG report handling.
- Chief Secretary instructed to implement APMS for monitoring.
- Failure to submit ATNs undermines audit processes.
- Concerns raised over lack of PAC and COGU reports.
- Monitoring cell established by Government of India for compliance.
New Delhi, March 24 (NationPress) Emphasizing the need for enhanced accountability and transparency, Delhi Assembly Speaker Vijender Gupta cautioned officials on Monday against overlooking the findings of CAG reports and urged them to diligently submit Action Taken Notes (ATNs), a practice that was abandoned during the decade-long administration of the AAP government.
“The inability of departments to present ATNs is a significant oversight, as it undermines the comprehensive and detailed audit process,” he expressed in the Assembly.
Speaker Gupta instructed the Chief Secretary to implement the Central government-supported online Audit Para Monitoring System (APMS) for efficient oversight of actions taken on CAG reports.
“I consider this a commendable initiative and it should be executed in Delhi without delay. The Chief Secretary of the Delhi government must promptly take measures to implement the online APMS for effective tracking of actions on CAG reports,” he stated within the Assembly.
He noted that on March 21, the Accountant General of Delhi met with him and provided updates on various pending items from the CAG report concerning the Delhi government.
The Speaker highlighted that the AG pointed out a troubling fact: over the last decade, neither the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) nor the Committee on Government Undertakings (COGU) of the previous Assembly had submitted any reports.
“What is even more alarming is that the administrative departments have also neglected to provide their Action Taken Notes (ATNs) on the CAG report’s items, which should have been submitted to the Assembly within three months,” asserted the Speaker.
He remarked that CAG officials conduct thorough audits of various departments throughout the year, and only serious discrepancies are included in the final report.
“Regardless, when the PAC or COGU examines a matter, it is the duty of the relevant departments to present their Action Taken Notes in the Assembly, which are subsequently reviewed by the CAG Office,” he explained.
The Accountant General, Delhi, also indicated that the Government of India’s Expenditure Department has set up a monitoring cell to ensure compliance, and a web-based application known as the Audit Para Monitoring System (APMS) has been created for tracking pending Action Taken Notes. He urged the Delhi government to adopt this system.
“This reflects the sentiment of the House, and any negligence in this matter will not be tolerated. It will decrease paperwork and guarantee real-time monitoring of ATN submissions. The Finance Department has been instructed to provide a status report by the first week of April 2025,” concluded the Speaker.
