Private organisations that get loan or assistance from the exchequer will come under public audit as the government is going to enact a law in this regard.
The Office of the Comptroller and Auditor General (OCAG) has drafted the Public Audit Bill 2024, and the finance ministry last week sought opinions from the ministries, divisions, and departments concerned to finalise it.
The draft bill also mentions that if a non-government organisation (NGO), foundation, trust, charity, civil society organisation or private sector organisation that has no direct involvement with the government gets a fund, donation, or incentive from the public exchequer, the OCAG will be able to scrutinise the suitability of use of the fund.
The OCAG will also be able to check whether the entity has "satisfactorily" followed the conditions given when the fund, donation, or incentive was granted.
Moreover, OCAG officials have been given the authority to scrutinise the authenticity of the documents provided by the organisation, based on which the fund was granted.
Under the Public Audit Bill 2024, the officials will also be able to check the situation of cash, other financial
matters, store, and stock of the organisation under audit.
Besides, the OCAG has been entitled to audit the public-private partnership (PPP) agreements, the selection process of private partners, and the outcomes of the projects taken under PPP.
Moreover, the OCAG under the act will be able to audit all the funds spent from public accounts. Also, they will be able to check whether the funds were spent in line with the laws and rules concerned.
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