Haryana Seeks School Financial Records After Fraud Concerns
The Haryana government has taken significant steps to enhance financial transparency in the education sector by instructing schools and education offices to submit detailed records of their financial transactions. This initiative follows recent cases of financial fraud that raised concerns about the management and safety of public funds.
The Directorate General of Secondary Education has issued directives to various authorities, including the Director of SCERT Gurugram, district education officers, and district elementary education officers. They are required to provide comprehensive details of all bank accounts and fixed deposits (FDs) maintained by schools and education offices.
According to the guidelines, authorities must submit a 10-point report containing essential financial information, such as the names of the banks, branch details, deposited amounts, interest rates, and maturity dates. Additionally, the designated authority must provide a mandatory undertaking confirming that the submitted information is accurate and verified.
Officials have described this exercise as a preventive measure aimed at ensuring proper monitoring and safeguarding of funds. The primary goal is to verify the authenticity of financial records and eliminate any possibility of mismanagement or irregularities.
This directive follows the exposure of a multi-crore financial fraud involving local branches of private banks, where funds were allegedly diverted using forged documents. This incident prompted the government to take stricter action and review financial practices across various departments.
In response, the Haryana Finance Department has also introduced new rules to regulate the handling of public funds. Under the revised norms, government scheme accounts can only be opened in nationalized banks operating within the state, with approval from administrative secretaries.
Opening accounts in private or corporate banks will now require prior approval from the finance department. Authorities must provide valid justification explaining why a nationalized bank cannot be used, along with complete details of the scheme involved.
The government has made it clear that any account opened without adhering to the prescribed procedures will be considered invalid and may be subject to immediate closure. This step reflects the government’s commitment to enhancing accountability, ensuring financial discipline, and protecting public funds from misuse.
