Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, August 11 2010:
There has been difficulty in utilising the fund under the State plan as the Abstract Contingent (AC) Bills of 42 different Government Departments, the amount of which have been withdrawn from 2003-04 to 2009-10 have not been converted into Detailed Countersigned Contingent (DCC) Bills .On the other hand, even if the Departments have submitted their respective DCC Bills along with related brochures, the AG has declined to accept the bills, even if they bear the signature and seal of the Treasury Officers, on the ground that the challans of these bills do not have the 'By-Transfer Credit Seal'.
This development has caused a frenzy among some of the Departments.
The Principal Secretary (Finance) had issued an order on February 22 this year directing that all the AC Bills related to financial transaction of various Departments including civil works from 2003-04 to 2009-10 should be converted and regularised into DCC Bills and no AC bill which does not abide by this principle should be allowed to be encashed.
As per the report sent by AC to the Finance Department, the total amount including those that have been kept under 8449 major heads for which AC Bills are to be regularised into DCC Bills is Rs 1124.16 crores.
However, with the efforts of Finance Department, the amount had been subsequently reduced to Rs 432.21 crores by December 2009 .
Acting on the instructions of the Finance Department, various Departments converted (regularised) their respective AC Bills into DCC Bills and submitted the same along with brochures the AG.
But to their dismay, the Departments learnt that AG has not accepted conversion of the AC Bills into DCC Bills, even if they have the signature and seal of the Treasury Officers on the ground that some of the challans do not have the 'By-Transfer Credit Seal'.
The Heads of Departments have brought the matter to the notice of the Treasury which in turn took it up with the Finance Department.
However, when the Finance Department wrote to the AG in this regard, the latter wrote reiterating that no bills would be accepted without the By-Transfer Credit Seal.
Meanwhile, representatives of the JAC of Government employees and Manipur Secretariat Services Association jointly called on Chief Secretary today morning to press the demand for implementation of 6th Central Pay Commission recommendations in the State.