All deptts can submit bills for 2019-20 after April 1
| Date :31-Mar-2020 |
Staff Reporter :
In a major respite to all departments of State Government unable to utilise grant to fight COVID-19 pandemic in the current fiscal, State Finance Department has permitted all departments to submit bills for the expenditure incurred during current fiscal even after April 1. In view of prevailing situation, the State Government seems to have relaxed the prevailing strict norm of utilising the entire grant before March 31. As on date, the budget distribution system has been locked and no fresh bills are being accepted by the treasuries across Maharashtra. State Finance Department and Directorate of Accounts and Treasuries informed the High Court that it had modified the circular dated March 24 prescribing the deadline of March 27 to accept any bill from any Government department or corporation except those related to tackling COVID-19 pandemic, only for three departments.
The authorities informed the High Court that relaxation had been granted to bills submitted by Public Health, Medical Education, and Pharmacy Departments. However, the affidavit made it clear that other departments would not be disabled in submitting various bills to the District Treasuries and Sub-Treasuries on or after April 1, 2020, for the expenses incurred or to be incurred for the financial year 2019-20. According to the affidavit filed before the High Court on behalf of Director of Accounts and Treasuries, the Appropriation Bill (Budget) for the financial year 2020-21 has been already approved by the State Legislative Assembly during February-March Budget Session. As a result, the provision of 2020-21 budget will be available to all departments from April 1, 2020.
The departments can submit their bills out of the next financial year (2020-21) provisions, which will be released by Finance Department on April 1. Therefore, they will not be denied their claims due to the restrictions mentioned in circular dated March 24. Bills for the grants provided for next financial year 2020-21 will be accepted as a routine course from April 1 by all Treasuries. Justice Sunil Shukre, Senior Administrative Judge, while taking note of this affidavit, observed that all the departments would be able to submit the bills for the expenses incurred in the financial year 2019-20 on or after April 1, 2020. Whenever such bills are submitted, those will be accepted and approved for making payment, if they otherwise fit into the applicable norms, in routine course.
Thus, the earlier deadline of March 27, 2020 would not come in the way of submission of various bills to the Treasuries and Sub-Treasuries across the State. It may be recalled that the High Court, on March 26, had pulled the authorities for issuing such arbitrary circular ignoring the ground reality of only 5 per cent staff working in all departments. The High Court had asked the Principal Secretary, Accounts and Treasuries and Director of Accounts and Treasuries to reconsider this circular dated March 24 apprehending that it would adversely affect ongoing efforts to tackle the pandemic and revise the deadline. Adv Anoop Gilda (Amicus Curiae), Government Pleader Sumant Deopujari, ASGI Ulhas Aurangabadkar (Union), Adv Sudhir Puranik (NMC) appeared in the matter.