(2) The Council shall maintain proper accounts and other relevant records and prepare an annual statement of accounts including the balance-sheet in such form as the Central Government may, by rules, prescribe and in accordance with such general direction as may be issued by that Government, in consultation with the Comptroller and Auditor^General of India.
(2) The accounts of the Council shall be audited by the Comptroller and Auditor-General of India and any expenditure incurred by him in connection with such audit shall be payable by the Council to the Comptroller and Auditor-General of India.
(3) The Comptroller and Auditor-General of India and any person appointed by him in connection with the audit of the accounts of the Council 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 the Government accounts and, in particular, shall have the right to demand the production of books, accounts, connected vouchers and other documents and papexs and to inspect the office or offices of the Council.
(4) The accounts of the Council 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 and that Government shall cause the same to be laid before each House of Parliament.
20. The Council shall prepare every year,, in such form and at such time as may be prescribed by rules, an annual report giving a true and full account of its activities during the previous year and copies thereof shall be forwarded to the Central Government and that Government shall cause the same to be laid before each House of Parliament.
Budget of Council.
Accounts and audit.
Annual report.
8 THE GAZETTE OF INDIA EXTRAORDINARY [PAST II— Authentication of orders and instruments of Council.
Vacancy, etc., not to invalidate prdceedings of the Council, etc.
Returns and information.
Power to make rules.
21. All orders and decisions of the Council shall be authenticated by the signature of the President or the Vice-President of the Council and all other instruments issued by the Council shall be authenticated by the signature of the Director or any other officer of the Council authorised by the Council in this behalf.
22. No act or proceeding of the Council, Governing Body or any standing or ad hoc committee under this Ordinance shall be invalid merely by reason of—
(a) any vacancy in, or any defect in the constitution of, the Council; or
(b) any defect in the appointment of a person acting as a member of the Council; or
(c) any irregularity in the procedure of the Council not affecting the merits of the case.
23, The Council shall furnish to the Central Government such reports, returns and other information as that Government may require from time to time.