CHANDIGARH: The Punjab Vidhan Sabha Committee on Panchayati Raj Institutions has flagged large-scale irregularities in the use of grants received by the state under the 15th Finance Commission and recommended a probe by a joint committee of four senior officers.Headed by AAP MLA Principal Budh Ram, the committee has sought separate investigation reports for each panchayat unit by July 31.In its ninth report, tabled in the assembly on Monday, the committee said, “During various meetings, while examining the audit paragraphs of different Panchayati Raj institutions, the Committee observed large-scale irregularities in the use of grants received under the 15th Finance Commission. It was also noticed that in several places the grants released under the 15th Finance Commission were used for other purposes by ignoring the prescribed conditions and rules.“The report said a joint committee should be formed comprising one senior officer each from the department of rural development and panchayats, the finance department, the audit & local fund accounts division, and the office of the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG). This panel should prepare individual reports for each panchayat unit and submit them to the assembly committee by July 31.The committee also recommended a CAG-led inquiry into the utilisation of 15th Finance Commission grants, with the findings to be presented in the Punjab assembly.It further observed delays in the release of central grants to gram panchayats, block committees and district panchayats, forcing the state to bear additional interest or financial charges. The committee said such delays must be avoided and grant disbursal should be timely. It also sought detailed information on the financial burden caused to the state exchequer due to these delays.The committee also recommended that the funds spent on digital signatures under the 15th Finance Commission should remain exclusively with the authorised officer responsible for them, and these digital signatures should not be shared with anyone else.
