NO BOOKS OF ACCOUNTS WITH JALANDHAR BRANCH OF NIRC- RTI

In the RTI Application dated 27.10.2015 to ICAI, following docs were asked-

1. DULY CERTIFIED COPIES OF COMPLETE LEDGER ACCOUNTS OF ‘SEMINAR AND MEETING EXPENSES’ FROM THE ACCOUNTS BOOKS OF JALANDHAR BRANCH OF NIRC OF ICAI, AS APPEARING IN THE RESPECTIVE INCOME & EXPENDITURE ACCOUNTS OF THE SAID BRANCH, FOR THE FINANCIAL YEARS 2009-10, 2010-11, 2011-12, 2012-13, 2013-14 AND 2014-15 WITH COMPLETE NARRATION AGAINST EACH ENTRY, DULY TALLIED WITH THE FIGURES OF AUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF JALANDHAR BRANCH OF NIRC OF ICAI FOR THE RESPECTIVE FINANCIAL YEARS.

 

2. DULY CERTIFIED COPIES OF ALL HOTEL/VENUE BILLS DEBITED IN THE ABOVE LEDGER ACCOUNTS OF ‘SEMINAR AND MEETING EXPENSES’ AS APPEARING IN THE INCOME & EXPENDITURE ACCOUNTS OF JALANDHAR BRANCH OF NIRC OF ICAI FOR THE FINANCIAL YEARS 2009-10, 2010-11, 2011-12, 2012-13, 2013-14 AND 2014-15.

RTI reply (fractional) from ICAI received on 01.12.2015 reveals certain astonishing facts about the working and (mis)management of affairs of Jalandhar branch.

Copies of ledger accounts of FY 13-14 and FY 14-15 have been supplied and copies of hotel bills have been told as ‘under collection from Jalandhar branch’ relating to these two years only.

Further, CPIO, ICAI has informed that LEDGER ACCOUNTS OF EARLIER YEARS (FY 2009-10, 2010-11, 2011-12 AND 2012-13) ARE ‘NOT TRACEABLE AS THE BRANCH HAS SHIFTED PREMISES’. THE SAME REPLY HAS BEEN GIVEN WITH REGARD TO COPIES OF HOTEL BILLS FOR FY 2009-10, 2010-11, 2011-12 AND 2012-13.

Getting this reply as a CA from parent ACCOUNTING REGULATOR OF INDIA, is certainly a reason of ‘giggle’ as well as ‘pity’.

Three situations can be imagined at the micro level-

                              *  It these books of accounts ever existed? If No, even God can’t save this profession.

                      * If the books of accounts (of course, computerized with backups) and ‘physical bills/vouchers’ are really misplaced, can there be a worse case of MISMANAGEMENT THAN THIS?

                      * If this is just a story, the things tried to be hidden certainly involve the MONEY MATTERS, which can be very well guessed by all CAs.

AND ON THE LARGER CANVAS, THE PUBLISHED ACCOUNTS OF ICAI ARE NOT BACKED BY BOOKS OF ACCOUNTS, WHAT TO TALK OF ‘PROPER BOOKS OF ACCOUNTS’ (TRUE & FAIR VIEW), BRANCH ACCOUNTS BEING INTEGRAL PART OF ICAI BALANCE SHEET.

CA. I. S. ARORA