Punjab Finance Dept's decree ‘officers will be held accountable if revenue target are not met’
Chandigarh, November 2: Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann led Punjab government has pulled up socks to meet the revenue target in the financial year 2022-23. At present, the financial condition of the government is very critical and the income of the government is not increasing as expected, in view of which now the finance department has reprimanded the departments to meet the income target. The Finance Department has now cracked down on the administrative departments and decided to fix the responsibility on them to raise revenue.
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In view of this, in order to increase the income, the finance department has issued a new order to all the administrative departments that if the income target is not achieved, then the officers with poor performance should be ready for ‘major action’.
It is to be noted that till September 2022, the income of the Punjab government has not increased as expected, on the contrary government's revenue from GST has decreased by 3 percent. The government had set a target of 26 percent income, of which only 23 percent income has been achieved. Apart from this, the stamp duty has also come down. Income from liquor recorded only 0.2 per cent growth. Due to which now the government has come into action and to meet the revenue target the government has tightened the noose of the administrative departments.
The Finance Department has issued a letter to all Special Chief Secretaries, Additional Chief Secretaries, Finance Commissioners, Principal Secretaries, Administrative Secretaries, Heads of all Departments, all Commissioners and Deputy Commissioners. The instructions issued by the Finance Department said that all the Administrative Secretaries have been asked to set monthly and quarterly targets for revenue collection.
In the order issued by the Finance Department, it has been stated that if an administrative department fails to achieve the set revenue target in the financial year 2022-23 without any justification, its budget may be cut. If an officer does not achieve the target, it will be recorded by the competent authority in his annual evaluation report. The Administrative Secretary will take major disciplinary action under the Punjab Civil Services (PDA) Rules, 1970 against the officials who perform poorly.
Apart from this, the administrative department will send the revenue target achievement report to the finance department every month and this report should reach by 10th of every month. Under Article 266 of the Constitution of India the public money received by the State Government shall be deposited in the Consolidated Fund of the State. Apart from this, the revenue target which has been achieved at the highest level by the finance department, what has been achieved will be reviewed. The Finance Department has said that the government is committed to reducing wasteful expenditure so that money can be spent in the right areas. Apart from this, the Administrative Secretary will ensure spending as per the prescribed budget and all the Administrative Secretaries will plan the expenditure. Expenditures should not exceed 45 percent in two quarters, 35 percent in the third quarter and 20 percent in the fourth quarter. It will be the responsibility of the Administrative Secretary to obtain prior approval from the Finance Department for funds to be released for Centrally Sponsored Schemes.
In order to reduce wasteful expenditure, the Punjab government has decided that foreign tour expenses, hiring of professionals, grant-in-aid to NGOs, general (non-salary), interest including payment of penalty interest, purchase of office vehicle, transport vehicle, staff car, hiring of vehicle for office work, hiring of transport vehicle and purchase of transport vehicles shall require approval from Finance Department.
All administrative departments will release funds for centrally sponsored schemes as per the guidelines of the Government of India. If additional budget is required for this, the proposal will be sent to the Finance Department. In the orders issued by the Finance Department, it has been stated that if any negligence is found in the instructions issued by the Finance Department, strict disciplinary action will be taken under the Punjab Civil Services (Punishment and Appeal) Act, 1970.
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