Battered by various CAG reportson alleged scams, government says it is "actively" consideringa proposal to make the official auditor a multi-member body.
Minister of State in Prime Minister's Office VNarayanasamy says Comptroller and Auditor General of India(CAG) has become "more impatient" and he wants that allconstitutional bodies to work within their parameters.
"It (making CAG a multi-member body) is under activeconsideration. The government is actively considering it," hetold PTI in an interview.
Narayanasamy was replying to a question about asuggestion by former Comptroller and Auditor General V KShunglu that the post of CAG be made a multi-member body.
Shunglu suggested that "a three-member body would obtaingreater transparency in its operation. One member shouldpossess professional accounting qualifications, CharteredAccountant or its equivalent.
"This should not seem to exclude an Indian Audits andAccounts Service officer from the triumvirate, who has wideexposure to finance, audit and accounts and best internationalpractices in these areas," Shunglu had said in a letter toPrime Minister Manmohan Singh.
Apparently referring to comments made by incumbent CAGVinod Rai on various occasions, he said, "It is unfortunate(that) the constitutional body in this country is commentingon the government taking some decisions.
"Of late I have found, CAG is making remarks which areunwarranted. According to me, it is unwarranted andunnecessary. I think, nowadays he (Rai) has become moreimpatient. That is what I feel from my side.
"By saying this I am not criticising. I am telling thateverybody in the government has to function within theparameters given to them," Narayanasamy said.
The minister said the mandate of the CAG is to considerwhether the expenditures incurred by the various agencies ofthe government of India are done properly.
"In my opinion, the CAG is going beyond its mandate. Itis my personal view. Not an official view. Everyconstitutional body, whether the CAG, CVC or the EC or evenfor the ministers, we have to work within the framework of theConstitution, under the rules framed by the government ofIndia," Narayanasamy, who represents Puducherry constituencyin Lok Sabha, said.
He said my request to the CAG is that he should workwithin its parameters, within the constitutional framework,the duties which have been assigned to him otherwise therewould be great injustice.
When asked about the CAG reports on 2G spectrum and coalblocks allocations claiming irregularities, Narayanasamy said,"Whether there are irregularities or there is any corruptionthat has to be looked into by the system given-- that is theParliament.
"CAG report is a draft report. It is submitted before theHon'ble Speaker of Lok Sabha. The Speaker of the Lok Sabhawill forward it to the Public Accounts Committee. The PAC willgo into the observations made by the CAG and they have to givetheir findings. Simply because the CAG says it, it is notfinal".
The minister said the CAG report has to be tested by PAC.
"They are the body of the Parliament. They will givetheir report and then only the government can act. Thegovernment will not act only on the CAG report. The PAC willexamine the report of the CAG.
"There are thousands of reports submitted by the CAG.
They have indicted chief ministers of various states,ministers of various states, officers of various states andUnion government. If we go just by the CAG report being madefinal, no chief minister will continue," he said.
The minister echoed his party colleague Digvijay Singh'scomments of seeking a check on reports allegedly being leakedfrom the CAG office.
"I saw our Congress general secretary and former chiefminister of Madhya Pradesh saying that draft reports are beingleaked from CAG. The entire issue is before the reports weresubmitted they were in public domain. It is under whosecustody? Why has it gone to public? Who is responsible forthis," he asked.