Local Audit Objections and Show Cause Notices

[Ref: F. No. 206/02/2010-CX.6 dated 3rd February 2010]

Subject: Modification of Circular No. 5/83-CX.6 dated 10.03.83- Issue of show cause notice on receipt of Audit objections from CERA.

Attention is invited to Board’s Circular No. 5/83-CX.6 dated 10.03.83, as amended, wherein instructions have been issued to issue show cause notice immediately on receipt of an Audit objection from CERA, even if the objection is not admitted. The field formations have also been directed to issue protective demand notices and transfer the same to Call Book, till the settlement of the objection.

2. It has been noticed that during audit by C&AG officers, Local Audit Paras (LAR) are initially raised, some of them are converted to Statement of Facts (SOF). A few SOF are made into Draft Audit Para (DAP). Generally, a LAR is converted into SOF within a period of 6 months. In some cases, it has been noticed that objections raised in LAR is not accepted by the department but the reply given by the department is also not accepted by AG’s office. Further, if the said LAR is not converted to SOF/ DAP, the said objection remain unsettled and these show cause notices are transferred to Call Book. For these cases, jurisdictional Commissioners are required to hold meeting with local DAGs to settle the objection. However, in many cases, these issues are not settled for a long period.

3. The issue has been examined. It is clarified that in cases where a LAR has not been admitted by the department, and the same is not converted into SOF/ DAP by CERA, then the SCNs issued on account of said LAR may be adjudicated after a period of one year from the date of sending the reply to the LAR. However, before adjudication, it must be ensured that the LAR has not been converted into SOF/ DAP.

4. Instruction issued by Circular No. 5/83-CX.6 dated 10.03.83 is modified accordingly.