Photo Courtesy: northeasttoday
Guwahati: The Comptroller and Auditor General of India has identified significant financial management lapses within the Assam government. In its latest audit report, the agency flagged that the state spent ₹509.59 crore across 13 different cases without any budget provisions or legal re-appropriation orders. This practice contradicts Article 204 of the Constitution, as the funds were allocated to public debt servicing without proper legislative approval.
Accountability concerns extend to the usage of government grants, with 6,929 utilization certificates worth ₹23,240.56 crore still pending as of March 2025. The state Finance Department carries a significant portion of this backlog, accounting for over ₹4,000 crore in unverified expenses. Auditors also identified weak financial oversight in the conversion of 1,222 abstract contingent bills totaling ₹753.61 crore.
The audit report further highlights a history of unregularized spending. Beyond the current year, the state carries ₹11,995.69 crore in excess disbursements dating back to 2006 that have never been cleared by the legislature. An additional ₹604.40 crore in excess expenditure from the current year also awaits formal validation under Article 205. The findings are now before the Public Accounts Committee to address these systemic issues and enforce better financial discipline across departments.
Comments