J&K’s audit report presented in Parliament, first time since 1958

JAMMU: First time ever since the accounts of Jammu and Kashmir are being audited beginning late 1950s, the report of the Comptroller and Auditor General of India pertaining to the erstwhile state has been presented in the Parliament.
The Office of the Accountant General in Jammu and Kashmir was part of State Government’s own establishment till April 30, 1958, on account of special constitutional arrangement of the State with the Indian Union. However, on May 1, 1958, the jurisdiction of the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India was extended to Jammu and Kashmir. However, the audit reports have always been presented in the state legislature.
Since the legislature of the state, which is now a Union Territory, doesn’t exist since 2018, the latest audit report was presented in the Parliament, in a historic first. The CAG’s findings on J&K finances, Public Sector Undertakings and non-Public Sector Undertakings were placed in both Houses of the Parliament on September 23 during the recently-concluded monsoon session.
The Centre presented the reports in the Parliament as Jammu & Kashmir is under President’s Rule for more than one year.
“The reports were placed in the Parliament because Union Finance Ministry in June 1994 ordered that CAG reports of a state shall be placed in the Parliament in case it is under the President’s rule for more than one year. J&K is under President’s rule for past 21 months”.
J&K is without an elected regime since June 19, 2018 when BJP withdrew support to Mehbooba Mufti-led government, citing “deteriorating security situation” in the state.
After remaining under Governor’s rule for six months, the erstwhile state came under President’s rule under Article 356 of the Constitution of India on December 19, 2018.
Hours before re-organisation of the state into two Union Territories , the Presidential proclamation issued under Article 356 was revoked but the Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir was brought under President’s rule under Article 73 of J&K Re-Organisation Act-2019.
In the erstwhile state, CAG reports were laid before the legislature of J&K.
Under the Re-Organisation Act, the reports of the Comptroller and Auditor-General of India relating to the accounts of Union territory of Jammu and Kashmir for any period shall be submitted to the Lieutenant Governor who shall cause them to be laid before the Legislative Assembly.