JDA refuses to get accounts audited from CAG

JAIPUR: Jaipur Development Authority (JDA) has once again refused to get its accounts audited by the Comptroller General of Audit (CAG) of India. Civic body maintained that it is an autonomous institution and CAG has no mandate to audit its home account.
JDA official’s claimed that every year the state government investigates their balances sheets.Along with it CAG do review their performance and funds that JDA receive as grants from the government.
“Beyond a limit they can’t go. They cannot audit on funds that we generate from our resources. This has been the practice followed so far and will continue” said an official of JDA.
After the refusal of JDA the principal accountant general has now written a letter to the state government seeking direct permission. In its communication the PAG has given references of several other authorities, department and institutions in the country where CAG has been conducting audits.
They also claim that JDA’s major chunk of revenues comes from selling of lands that are primarily owned by the government. Thus taxes that JDA receives from it are money given by common men.
Another reasoning that CAG has put forth is that audit and account division of the state that audits JDA account is headed by an officer from Rajasthan accounts services. However JDA commissioner is an IAS rank officer and there are chances that observations raised during the audit can be overruled but JDC.
Meanwhile additional chief secretary of UDH, Ashok Jain pointed that CAG may audit JDA but have to seek approval from the governor. “JDA is an autonomous body and CAG can not audit its home account. For this they need approval from the governor,” said Jain.