The state-appointed auditor can only be allowed if the court decides so, says civic body.
The state-appointed auditor can only be allowed if the court decides so, says civic body.
The appointment of the municipal chief auditor (MCA) saga took a new twist on Tuesday as the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) made it clear that the official appointed by the state government cannot take charge of his post for now.
Following the appointment of Suresh Bansode as the MCA by the state government, the civic body had sought the opinion of its legal department over the issue. The counsel has informed that he cannot take over the reigns, as there is a stay over the matter in the court.
The state finance department had last week issued orders to appoint Mr Bansode, who worked as a joint financial director, as the MCA in the BMC. However, when he approached the civic body on Saturday he was not able to take charge on account of a pending court case regarding the appointment of the MCA.
According to section 78 (A) of the Mumbai Municipal Corporation (MMC) Act 1888, the MCA has to take orders from the municipal standing committee or the BMC while auditing the accounts of municipal funds. However, the state legislature in 2011 in an amendment to the section empowered the state government to appoint a Mantralaya official of the rank of the joint director (finance) on deputation to the BMC to look into the civic body’s accounts. The move was challenged by the municipal mazdoor union in the high court claiming that it would hamper civic officials’ promotions. The matter is pending in the Bombay high court.
Commenting on the matter, a senior BMC official said, “We had sought legal opinion over the matter and have been informed that there is a stay over the appointment of MCA. Therefore, for now no person would take charge till the time the court takes a decision.”
According to the civic officials, the appointment of the state-appointed MCA might put the ruling Shiv Sena in a tight spot. During the five-year period from the year 2007 to 2012, no monthly accounts were presented to the standing committee, raising doubts over the BMC’s financial accountability.
“After 2012 too, the monthly accounts were presented only for a few times and then discontinued. This is a violation of the municipal Act. That’s why we want the state to appoint a chief auditor,” said MNS corporator Sandeep Deshpande, who met the BMC commissioner Ajoy Mehta on Tuesday demanding that Mr Bansode be allowed to take charge.
