CAG gets a toehold in RAW

RAW’s auditing process came up after CAG completed its special audit of the National Technical Research Organisation. That report,which was critical of purchases,procedures and recruitment,has been submitted to National Security Advisor Shivshankar Menon.

RAW’s audit practices were discussed at a high-level meeting at CAG headquarters,which the RAW chief,officials of the cabinet secretariat and PMO attended.

As a follow-up,the RAW chief has been asked to “personally’’ keep CAG informed about how the audit paras listed in the internal report have been “settled.’’ In other words,the RAW chief is expected to keep the CAG posted on action taken by it on audit objections or expense anomalies.

RAW has also been advised to set up a monitoring committee headed by its chief,which will periodically review the settlement of audit objections. Top officials in the agency told The Indian Express that the directive is a reiteration of old guidelines,and that interaction with the CAG and cabinet secretariat,on the lines suggested,has been set in motion.