No.Fin(LA)-H(2)-PFMA(8)-21/2008 Government of …

1 (LA)-H(2)-PFMA(8)-21/2008 Government of himachal pradesh Local Audit department . From Pr. Secretary (Finance) to the Government of To 1. All Administrative Secretaries to the Government of 2. Ms. Suman Saxena, Pr. Accountant General (Audit), Shimla-3. 3. Ms. Gitali Tare, Accountant General (A&E), , Shimla-3. 4. Director, Industries, Engineer-in-Chief, PWD/IPH, Pr. Chief Conservator of Forest, Director, Treasuries & Accounts, Special Secretary (Budget) to the Government of , Information Technology.

2 5. Divisional Commissioners, Shimla/Kangra/Mandi, Dated Shimla-9 the December, 2008 Subject: Draft of Financial Rules, 2009 . Sir/Madam, I have been directed to enclose herewith the hard copy of the Draft of Financial Rules, 2009, presently under consideration for approval at the State Government level. A soft copy of this document may also be accessed on the Finance department website : 2. This is to inform you that the State Government , in the Finance department in June 2008, had constituted a Committee to frame a revised Draft of himachal pradesh Financial Rules.

3 This Committee primarily consisted of the officers of the Finance department . The committee, after several meetings and discussions, has prepared an initial draft of the HP Financial Rules, 2009 taking into account, the contemporary needs of the State as well as Government of India practices. 3. The himachal pradesh Financial Rules of 1971, presently in force, were notified in 1971 37 years ago, under Article 283 of the Constitution. These Rules determine the procedures to be followed by different departments of the Government and Instrumentalities of the State, in expending money out of the Consolidated Fund of the State and they also determine financial delegation and procedures to handle receipts accruing to the State s Accounts.

4 4. The Committee has adopted the following principles/procedures in drafting the revised Draft HP Financial Rules 2009, which are placed below: (a) The Rules are broadly modeled on the General Financial Rules of the Government of India, which were notified in 2005, after over 35 years, in Government of India. (b) The Draft includes Ten chapters as mentioned in the Table of contents and includes the latest financial practices of Government of India, as well as practices and procedures, which would be useful to today s needs of good governance and sound financial procedures.

5 (c) More specifically, the chapters on works, procurement of Goods & Services, Contracting, Outsourcing of services, Inventory Management and Contract Management, take into account the latest requirements of the Departments, consistent with the objectives of ensuring transparency in public spending , efficiency in public services delivery and the local needs of himachal pradesh . (d) Though the Draft himachal pradesh Financial Rules, 2009 are substantially on the pattern of Government of India General Financial Rules, 2005 yet they have been suitably modified to take into account the needs of the State.

6 (e) With the notification of the revised himachal pradesh Financial Rules, it is proposed that the existing himachal pradesh Budget Manual may also be repealed since the chapters on Budget and Government Accounts incorporate all major provisions of the Constitution and the existing Budget Manual, relating to Budget preparation & estimation of receipts & expenditure. Therefore, in the draft Rules, it is also proposed to repeal the himachal pradesh Budget Manual of 1971. (f) Even as the old himachal pradesh Financial Rules are repealed & the new Rules are notified, it would be simultaneously important that Public Works department / Forest department / Industry department /Treasury department amend their own Public Works department code/ Forest Code/ Accounts Code/ Procurement Rules/ procedures/Treasury procedures, consistent with the provisions of the new himachal pradesh Financial Rules.

7 These departments are also requested to amend & update their Accounts Manuals/ Procurement procedures consistent with the new proposed draft himachal pradesh Financial Rules. (g) In preparing this Draft of the himachal pradesh Financial Rules, 2009 due attention has been given to Repeal and Savings clause. Even while the previous himachal pradesh Financial Rules are repealed, it has been specifically provided that all existing economy instructions, financial delegations, instructions of the Finance department /Administrative departments, proformas, forms etc.

8 Shall continue to be operative and relevant, to the extent they are not repugnant to the new Rules or till the same are modified or superseded. Same has also been provided with respect to instructions, orders and notices etc. issued by the Finance department under the himachal pradesh Budget manual. (h) All the relevant definitions and important clauses of the existing himachal pradesh Financial Rules have been inserted in the New Draft HP Financial Rules. (i) The Draft Rules provide the broad contours of the procedure for operation of the Consolidated Fund of the State.

9 The individual Rules in this Draft are enabling provisions designed to allow the Finance department / Administrative Departments to issue necessary instructions for best utilization of Public funds, consistent with the need to avoid losses to the exchequer, even while ensuring efficiency in services. This should help the financial procedures to be flexible, within the ambit of the himachal pradesh Financial Rules, without inducing rigidity in the Public Financial system. 5. Given the importance of updating the existing Financial Rules, your comments on the Draft Financial Rules, 2009 are requested on a priority basis.

10 You are requested to give your suggestion on possible amendments on the Draft, especially with respect to issues and Rules which are relevant to your organization and department . It is requested that your comments may reach the Finance department by 2nd February, 2009, so that this department can take further necessary action in the matter. Adherence to this timeline would be appreciated. If no comments are received by this date, it would be presumed that the departments have no comments to offer in the matter. 6. The Administrative Departments are requested to also circulate the hardcopy Draft of the Financial Rules to the Departments under their control for a wider consultation process, and send their comments within the stipulate time.