Defence deals: Parliamentary panel stresses need for pre-audit

NEW DELHI: A Parliamentary Standing Committee today stressed the need for a pre-audit of defence deals, saying it was "not happy" with the Defence Ministry's stand that it would delay procurement process.

The intention of the Committee while recommending for pre-audit were not only to avoid possible anxiety while placing orders on the vendors but also enabling the ministry to be doubly sure that there would not be any criticism of any kind from any quarter following the procurement, the Standing Committee on Defence said in its report.

The report said that the Committee was "not happy" with the reply of the ministry that pre-audit of procurement would delay delay the procurement process.

"Therefore, the Committee re-iterates its recommendation and desire that pre-audit of procurement be done so as to avoid the possibility of any anxiety in the Ministry of Defence while placing the orders and also minimise delays," it said.