Implement Audit Dept Recommendations To Prevent Revenue Leak In All TDB Temples: Kerala HC
Kochi: The Kerala High Court has directed the TDB to implement the recommendations of the Audit Department in all its temples, which include strengthening financial controls and accountability to reduce the possibility of future revenue leakage. The bench of justices Raja Vijayaraghavan V and K V Jayakumar also said that implementation of the recommendations will strengthen financial discipline and management and also ensure uniform and correct implementation of the provisions governing ritual charges.
“It will also facilitate delegation of responsibility to the officers concerned where necessary, given due opportunity and after full compliance with the principles of natural justice. In the above circumstances, we direct the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) to seriously consider the implementation of the recommendations made by the Audit Department in a phased and time-bound manner,” the bench said. he said. The recommendations were given by the Audit Department in connection with the management of ‘Mrityunjaya Homam’ at Kandiyoor Devaswom.
The ministry said the audit highlighted that the Devaswom Board suffered loss of revenue due to inconsistencies between general and specific orders regarding ritual charges, as in the case of Mrityunjaya Homam. Addressing the issue requires a multi-pronged approach focusing on openness, financial controls and accountability, he said.
The Ministry recommended reviewing existing general and special orders regarding ritual pricing to eliminate differences in orders and pricing and harmonizing rate fixing criteria to eliminate uncertainties that would lead to revenue loss.
It was also recommended to strengthen financial controls and accountability through automatic revenue tracking and computerization of accounts, regular reconciliation of ritual reservations with actual collections and their reporting, and strengthening of the Board’s internal audit mechanism.
Apart from these, the department also suggested addressing toll losses and preventing future incidents by implementing a continuous process improvement program for all revenue-generating activities and introducing transparency at appropriate places, such as clearly displaying approved rates of various rituals on temple premises or online portals.
