Chandigarh, 26 October, 2024: The Director General of Audit (Central) in Chandigarh has identified major discrepancies within the UT administration’s rent control department with an audit covering the years 2021 to 2023 revealing that a total of ₹4.42 crore in license fees remains uncollected from houses occupied by ministers and deputy ministers of Punjab and Haryana.
The report specifies that the Punjab government owes ₹1.76 crore, while the Haryana government is responsible for ₹2.66 crore.
The Assistant Controller (Finance and Accounts) rents, based in Sector 9, is tasked with collecting license fees and managing accounts for government residential accommodations allocated to employees of both states and the UT administration.
The department also oversees the collection of fees for government buildings occupied by various departments, ensuring all dues are deposited into the UT treasury.
According to the Punjab Reorganisation Act of 1966, license fees are recoverable for residences allotted from the UT pool to ministers from Punjab and Haryana. RTI activist RK Garg, who accessed the audit report, urged the UT administration to handle the department’s operations more seriously and in accordance with Central and UT regulations.
The audit showed that several houses and bungalows were allotted to Punjab and Haryana ministers across different sectors in Chandigarh. By March 31, 2023, outstanding license fees and interest amounting to ₹4.42 crore were still due from these states.
The department acknowledged the issue, stating, “The matter is under active consideration and is being regularly discussed with the governments of Punjab and Haryana. Compliance will be communicated in due course.”
Further analysis revealed that license fees from 20 unauthorized occupants had not been collected as of March 31, 2023, resulting in an additional ₹1.37 crore in dues, including interest. In response, the department noted that ongoing efforts are being made to recover these amounts. The audit also found that the license fees for a building rented to the Employees’ State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) in Chandigarh have yet to be finalized, raising further concerns about financial management within the department.
