Allegations made are not factual, says principal secretary Shamsher Singh Rawat
In this regard, Rawat pointed out that Principal Accountant General (A&E) compiles accounts of the state every year
Vijayawada: AP government on Friday refuted allegations that Rs. 40,000 crore have been paid in gross violation of norms, asserting that due procedures have been followed while making these transactions.
In this regard, Public Accounts Committee chairman Payyavula Keshav had gone on to lodge a complaint with AP Governor Biswabhusan Harichandan over what he called “illegal payments” and sought a full-fledged audit of the State Finance Department.
Principal secretary (finance) Shamsher Singh Rawat, in a press release on Friday, referred to certain sections of media reporting that payments to the extent of Rs. 40,000 crore had been made by the government in gross violation of well-regulated accounting rules and procedures, as well as AP Treasury Code and norms.
In this regard, Rawat pointed out that Principal Accountant General (A&E) compiles accounts of the state every year. During this process, observations are bound to be made and referred to the Finance Department for its remarks. These comments are dropped after a satisfactory clarification is issued. This is a standard yearly practice.
Similarly, the principal secretary explained, in case of accounts for 2020–21, the Principal Accountant General had vide letter dated 4-05-2021 observed that 10,806 bills involving Rs 41,043.08 crore had been drawn under Special Bill Category without adhering to codal provision or with no details of classification, DDO or beneficiary details across all treasury units.
Rawat said the letter of Principal Accountant General and its contents had been examined. It has then been found that these issues had arisen due to operation of adjustment transactions, wherein funds released to PD accounts that could not be utilised by financial year-end had lapsed as per the Andhra Pradesh Financial Code.
The principal secretary said adjustments had then been made within PD accounts, following by rectification in accounting unit of expenditure within the same Head of Account. He stated that, accordingly, information has been passed on to the Principal Accountant General (A&E).
Rawat asserted that all transactions had been carried-out as per procedure and provisions of Andhra Pradesh Treasury and Financial Code.
Allegations made are not factual, he added.