21Accounts and audit

(1) The Board shall maintain proper accounts and other relevant records and prepare an annual statement of accounts, including the balance-sheet in such form as may be specified, in accordance with such general directions as may be issued by the Central Government in consultation with the Comptroller and Auditor-General of India.

(2) The accounts of the Board shall be audited annually by the Comptroller and Auditor-General of India or any officer authorised by him in this behalf, and any expenditure incurred by him in connection with such audit shall be payable by the Board to the Comptroller and Auditor-General of India.

(3) The Controller and Auditor-General of India and any person authorised by him in connection with the audit of the accounts of the Board shall have the same rights, privileges and authority in connection with such audit as the Comptroller and Auditor-General of India has in connection with the audit of 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 the office of the Board, and the library.

(4) The accounts of the Board, as certified by the Comptroller and Auditor-General of India or any other person authorised by him in this behalf, together with the audit report thereon, shall be forwarded annually to the Central Government and that Government shall, as soon as may be after the receipt thereof, cause the same to be laid before each House Parliament.