T’puram: Finance department directed all administrative departments to speed up remedial action reports on audit findings related to misappropriation, theft and defalcation flagged by the comptroller and auditor general (CAG), after noting delays in submitting mandatory replies. In a circular issued on July 18, the department said remedial measures taken statements on CAG audit paragraphs for 2021-22, 2022-23 and 2023-24 were still pending in several cases. It asked administrative departments to collect factual details from heads of departments (HOD) and controlling officers, verify them and send the statements to the department without delay.The circular assumes significance because such CAG observations usually require clear action-taken reports from departments, including details of recovery, disciplinary proceedings, criminal action, rectification of procedural lapses and steps taken to prevent recurrence. Delays in submitting these reports can affect legislative scrutiny of audit findings.Finance department instructed other departments to ensure remedial steps taken statements are complete and properly verified before submission. Once it receives the statements, the department will vet them and forward the final versions to the legislature secretariat, the accountant general and finance PAC-B department.The circular also directed departments to examine cases where stay orders from courts or other forums had stalled further proceedings. It asked them to check whether they can pursue appeals or take steps to vacate the stay wherever legally possible.To ensure closer monitoring, finance department asked HODs to convene review meetings once every three months. It said updated status reports on pending audit paragraphs should be sent to the finance inspection wing regularly.The move aims to strengthen follow-up on grave audit objections and ensure departments do not treat CAG findings as routine correspondence. By insisting on quarterly reviews and verified action-taken reports, state govt is seeking to create a more structured mechanism to track cases involving financial irregularities.
