Rule 17 — General Financial Rules 2017 (amended July 2024) - Rule 17
Original Rule Text
Rule 17 Miscellaneous Demands. Accounts Officers shall watch the realization of miscellaneous demands of Government, not falling under the ordinary revenue administration, such as contributions from State Governments, Local Funds, contractors and others towards establishment charges.
What This Means
This rule outlines a specific duty for government Accounts Officers concerning certain types of money owed to the government. It focuses on what are called 'miscellaneous demands,' which are payments due from various sources that are not part of the government's usual tax collections or regular income streams.
These demands typically include contributions from other State Governments, local bodies (like municipal corporations), contractors, or other entities. These contributions are often intended to cover 'establishment charges,' which means the costs associated with running a government office, such as staff salaries, administrative expenses, or overheads incurred when the government provides services, resources, or participates in a joint project.
The core requirement of this rule is that Accounts Officers must actively 'watch the realization' of these demands. This means they are responsible for diligently tracking these amounts, ensuring they are correctly billed, and following up to make sure the money is actually received and properly deposited into government accounts. Their role is crucial in preventing any loss of funds to the government from these non-standard income sources.
This explanation was generated with AI assistance for educational purposes. Always refer to the official gazette notification for authoritative text.
Key Points
- 1Accounts Officers are specifically responsible for monitoring and ensuring the collection of certain funds owed to the government.
- 2These funds are termed 'miscellaneous demands' and are distinct from the government's ordinary revenue like taxes.
- 3Examples of such demands include contributions from State Governments, Local Funds, and contractors.
- 4These contributions often cover 'establishment charges,' which are administrative and staff costs incurred by the government.
- 5The Accounts Officer's duty is to 'watch the realization,' meaning they must actively track and confirm that these amounts are actually received by the government.
Practical Example
Consider the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare undertaking a joint public awareness campaign with the 'Vikas Nagar Municipal Corporation' on sanitation. As per their Memorandum of Understanding, the Municipal Corporation is required to contribute ₹25 lakhs towards the Ministry's 'establishment charges' – covering the administrative costs and a portion of the salaries for the central team managing the campaign.
Ms. Anjali Singh, the Accounts Officer at the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, would be responsible for ensuring this contribution is realized. She would track the due date for the ₹25 lakh payment, send timely reminders to the Vikas Nagar Municipal Corporation's finance department, verify that the funds are transferred to the Ministry's designated account, and record the receipt accurately. If there's a delay, Ms. Singh would follow up diligently to ensure the government receives its due contribution.
This explanation was generated with AI assistance for educational purposes. Always refer to the official gazette notification for authoritative text.
Frequently Asked Questions
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This explanation was generated with AI assistance for educational purposes. Always refer to the official gazette notification for authoritative text.