In wake of the upcoming Budget Session, Delhi Government’s Finance Department has directed all the departments to submit their expenditure proposals with the concurrence of the finance wing latest by March 23. As several departments have not submitted their expenditure proposals till date, the Government has also decided to keep all its Pay and Accounts Offices (PAOs) open on all Saturdays and Sundays from March 16 for quick clearance of bills of the current fiscal. The PAOs will, however, remain closed on March 24 and March 25 on account of Holi and Good Friday.
In his order, Special Secretary (Finance) SP Singh said that rules clearly stipulate in unambiguous terms that rush of expenditure particularly in the closing months of the financial year shall be regarded as a breach of financial propriety and shall also be avoided. It said that receipt of proposals at the fag-end of the financial year leaves little time for the examination of the proposals.
The order said departments and agencies do not have sufficient time to ensure proper utilisation of funds. “Inevitably, while departments seek revalidation of expenditure sanctions, local bodies/grantee institutions seek permission to utilise unspent balances in the subsequent financial year in respect of sanctions accorded in the previous financial year. To avoid this situation, all departments are advised that expenditure proposals requiring the concurrence of the Finance Department should be submitted latest by March 23. Proposals received after due date shall be considered only in the next financial year.”
In its bid to clear a large number of bills being presented by the Pay and Accounts Offices on a daily basis, the Government has also ordered to keep all PAO’s open on Saturdays and Sundays. In a separate order, Controller of Accounts Prakash Chand said the bills for the current financial year would be accepted only up to 6 pm on March 31. Chand told the PAOs to take appropriate action to streamline their working to deal with the temporary increase in volume of their work and also to extend their cooperation to the Drawing and Disbursing Officers for accepting their bills on a daily basis.