Finance Secy takes serious note, warns of stern action
Admn Secys asked to ensure adherence to GFR
Mohinder Verma
JAMMU, July 8: Several Government agencies executing developmental works in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir are openly violating the norms while floating e-tenders thereby leading to unnecessary litigations and taking serious note of this, the Financial Commissioner Finance Department has made it clear that further non-compliance to the General Financial Rules (GFR) will lead to stern action against the erring officers.
In the General Financial Rules and Procurement Guidelines of the Department of Expenditure of Union Finance Ministry, which stand extended to the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir, uniform standard terms and conditions have been laid down for strict compliance by all the executing agencies while floating e-tenders for developmental works and Government procurements.
However, several executing agencies are violating these terms and conditions while floating e-tenders despite repeated instructions from the Finance Department of the J&K Union Territory issued ever since the applicability of General Financial Rules.
This can be gauged from the circular issued by the Financial Commissioner Finance Department, Dr Arun Kumar Mehta. “It has been observed that the executing agencies, while uploading tender documents on the “jktenders” e-portal, are not following uniform standard terms and conditions and some of the terms and conditions are even vague which lead to unnecessary litigations”, reads the circular.
“Moreover, the fund positions in certain cases have been shown as ‘demanded’ which is not in consonance with the General Financial Rules as no work can be initiated without budgetary provision, Administrative Approval and Technical Sanction”, the Financial Commissioner Finance said.
He has impressed upon all the executing agencies to strictly follow norms while inviting tenders and vague terms and conditions shall not be included in the tender documents in future.
“The tender documents should be in conformity with the provisions of the General Financial Rules and Procurement Guidelines of the Ministry of Finance, Department of Expenditure, Government of India”, Dr Mehta said. He has brought to the notice of all the stakeholders that tenders where provision of funds has been mentioned as ‘demanded’, bills pertaining to these works will not be accepted by JKPaySys.
It is pertinent to mention here that JKPaySys has been made applicable in all the treasuries of J&K UT with effect from April 15, 2020 with the aim of reforming the Government delivery mechanism by re-engineering the existing process of payment for simpler and faster transactions and to ensure better interface with beneficiaries besides de-duplication of payments and reduction in incorrect classification of expenditure.
Stating that tender documents should be accessible throughout the relevant period, he said, “if there is any unnecessary difficulty in downloading the documents it should be brought to the notice of the department concerned for necessary action”.
He has further made it clear that all the controlling officers must ensure that no tenders are invited unless Administrative Approval and Technical Sanction have been accorded and funds are available in budget. “Any violation of these principles of financial propriety shall be construed as irregularity and action as warranted under Rules shall be initiated against the delinquent officer(s) including concerned Drawing and Disbursing Officers (DDOs)”, read the circular, the copy of which is available with EXCELSIOR.
He has asked all the Administrative Secretaries to periodically review the status of tendering procedures followed by the executing agencies to see whether the same is as provided in the General Financial Rules of the Government of India.
“Director Finance and Financial Advisor-cum-Chief Accounts Officers in the respective Administrative Departments shall have the added responsibility to oversee whether the tendering procedure is followed as provided in the General Financial Rules”, Dr Mehta said, adding “any deviation in this regard shall be reported to the Finance Department within shortest possible time so that necessary action is taken against the erring officers”.
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