JNM journalist Hardeep Jamwal, Jammu
A stark picture has emerged regarding government functioning in Jammu and Kashmir, revealing several serious flaws. The latest report by the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) has raised questions about the functioning of government departments. According to the report, administrative negligence, lack of accountability, and laxity in following rules are not only impacting work but also causing losses to government revenue.
Most worrying is the fact that a large number of inspection reports and audit paras are pending until March 31, 2023. This situation clearly shows that the concerned departments are not responding timely and audit objections are not being taken seriously. Experts believe that this impacts the transparency of the administrative system and slows down the process of reform.
The report also revealed that not a single audit committee meeting was held in the revenue sector during 2022-23. This negligence not only weakens the review process but also poses a major obstacle to resolving pending cases. The CAG has advised the government to mandate at least one audit committee meeting every quarter and to compel officials to respond to inspection reports in a timely manner.
The report also revealed serious flaws in the e-way bill system. A total of 22 major problems have been identified, impacting revenue collection. In many cases, e-way bills were issued for interstate supplies in violation of regulations. Furthermore, cases of e-way bills being generated for supplies exceeding the prescribed limit have also been reported.
Surprisingly, some taxpayers issued e-way bills even after their registrations were cancelled. In addition, irregularities such as generating bills through duplicate invoices, filing nil returns, or issuing e-way bills despite not filing returns have also been documented in the report.
The report also revealed that some taxpayers are reporting their sales solely through e-way bills, while there is no coordination between purchase and sales data. This raises serious questions about the transparency of the tax system.
The CAG has recommended that the government further strengthen the e-way bill system, increase monitoring, and ensure strict compliance with regulations. If these shortcomings are not addressed promptly, they will directly impact government schemes and revenue.
This report clearly indicates that administrative reforms are urgently needed to increase transparency and ensure effective functioning of the government machinery.
