Question : Audit of Defence Lands

(a) whether audit of defence lands are being undertaken professionally by Controller General of Defence Accounts and Defence Accounts Department which is the designated internal audit institution of the Ministry;

(b) whether there is a conflict of interest when Director General of Defence Estates and Defence Estates Department which is custodian of Defence Land records and responsible for management of these lands is auditing them; and

(c) if so, the details thereof along with the response of the Government thereon?

MINISTER OF DEFENCE (SHRI MANOHAR PARRIKAR)


(a) Land Audit has been entrusted to Director General of Defence Estates (DGDE) in April 2011. The scope of Land Audit by DGDE is also defined and covers aspects such as maintenance of land records, usage of Defence land, extent and reasons for encroachment etc. The Controller General of Defence Accounts can also audit Defence land management as part of its internal audit function.

(b) & (c): The responsibility for Defence land Management vests with the users. As less than 4% of total Defence land management is under the management of DGDE there is no substantive conflict of interest in entrusting Land Audit task to DGDE. Further to make the audit objective DGDE has been advised to choose audit teams from other circles and for teams to directly report to DGDE Headquarters.
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