Shillong: The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India has raised concerns over the operation of teer counters in Meghalaya, particularly in Shillong and Tura.

In its report, the CAG revealed that 31 teer counters were found operating within 100 meters of educational institutions and places of worship, violating Section 6(1) of the Meghalaya Regulation of the Game of Arrow Shooting and the Sale of Teer Tickets Act, 2018.

The CAG conducted a joint physical verification of 42 teer counters in Shillong and Tura, uncovering several deficiencies in the implementation of the Act.

These included poor monitoring of unauthorized teer ticket sales, with 1,375 teer books issued to 101 unlicensed bookmakers between March 2019 and March 2022.

The report also highlighted the failure of the Excise, Registration, Taxation & Stamps Department to levy penalties on bookmakers and organizers who delayed submitting their license renewal applications, resulting in a loss of Rs 4.95 lakh.

To address these issues, the CAG recommended that the state government relocate all teer counters operating within 100 meters of educational institutions and places of worship.