Consumer Protection Act Section 26 — Accounts and audit
CHAPTER III CENRAL CONSUMER PROTECTION AUTHORITY
Civil
Summary
Sub-section (1) requires the Central Authority to keep proper accounts and relevant records, and to prepare an annual statement of accounts. The form and manner of this statement will be decided by rules made in consultation with the Comptroller and Auditor-General of India.
Sub-section (2) states that the accounts of the Central Authority will be audited by the Comptroller and Auditor-General of India at intervals that the CAG decides. Any costs of this audit must be paid by the Central Authority to the CAG.
Sub-section (3) gives the Comptroller and Auditor-General of India, or any person appointed by the CAG for the audit, the same rights, privileges, and authority in auditing the Central Authority's accounts as the CAG generally has when auditing government accounts. In particular, this includes the right to demand the production of books, accounts, vouchers, and other documents and papers, and to inspect any office of the Central Authority.
Sub-section (4) requires that the accounts of the Central Authority, once certified by the CAG or the person appointed for this purpose, along with the audit report, be sent annually to the Central Government. The Central Government must then place these documents before each House of Parliament.
Official Text
(1) The Central Authority shall maintain proper accounts and other relevant records and prepare an annual statement of accounts in such form and manner as may be prescribed in consultation with the Comptroller and Auditor-General of India.
(2) The accounts of the Central Authority shall be audited by the Comptroller and Auditor-General of India at such intervals as may be specified by him and any expenditure incurred in connection with such audit shall be payable by the Central Authority to the Comptroller and Auditor-General of India.
(3) The Comptroller and Auditor-General of India or any other person appointed by him in connection with the audit of the accounts of the Central Authority shall have the same rights, privileges and authority in connection with such audit as the Comptroller and Auditor-General of India generally has, in connection with the audit of the Government accounts and, in particular, shall have the right to demand the production of books, accounts, connected vouchers and other documents and papers and to inspect any of the offices of the Central Authority.
(4) The accounts of the Central Authority as certified by the Comptroller and Auditor-General of India or any other person appointed by him in this behalf together with the audit report thereon shall be forwarded annually to the Central Government which shall cause the same to be laid before each House of Parliament.