Section 16. Annual Accounts and Audit .

16. (1) The accounts of the Council shall be maintained in such manner and in such form as may be prescribed. The Council shall prepare an annual statement of accounts in such form as may be prescribed. (2) The accounts of the Council shall be audited at least once in a year by such auditor as the State Government may appoint in this behalf. (3) The auditor appointed under sub-section (2) shall, for tax purposes of audit, have such rights, privileges and authority as may be prescribed. (4) The Member-Secretary to the Council shall cause the audit report to be printed and shall forward a printed copy thereof to each member and place such report before the Council for consideration at its next meeting. (5) The Council shall take appropriate action forthwith to remedy any defect or irregularity that may be pointed out in the audit report. (6) The accounts of the Council as certified by the auditor together with the audit report along with the remarks of the Council thereon shall be forwarded to the State Government within such period as may be prescribed. (7) The State Government may, by order in writing, direct the Council to take such action as may be specified in the order to remedy, within such time as may be specified therein, the defects, if any, disclosed in the audit report, and the Council shall comply with such direction.