Tags:
Journalism of Courage
AMID the governments attack on CAG for allegedly going beyond its mandate,President Pranab Mukherjee today lauded it for shifting from routine compliance audit to more macro perspective but cautioned that any attempt to overreach would lead to dissonance in the system.
Mukherjee stressed that while redefining organisational roles and boundaries,all constitutional authorities need to adhere to the fine and calibrated system of checks and balances which form the bedrock of governance structures.
I am glad that during the past years,CAGs audit has shifted from routine compliance audit to a more macro perspective, he said inaugurating the 26th conference of accountants general here.
At the same time,he underlined that any attempt by any organ of the state to overreach will unnecessarily lead to dissonance within the system. It is,therefore,necessary that all constitutional authorities introspect on their respective roles,he said. There will be moments in a nations life when institutions would appear to be under stress,but as long as we have faith in our basic democratic values and the supremacy of our people and parliamentary processes,we shall be able to tide over any crisis that we may face, he said.
Addressing the conference,Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) Vinod Rai said it had been the endeavour of the audit department to provide constructive suggestions for mid-course corrections in the delivery of government schemes. We,however,cannot don the role of cheerleaders, said Rai.
The President said audit reports were essentially feedback. The tone and timeliness of such feedback is,therefore,important… It is thus important that CAGs reports are presented in time so as to enable mid-course corrections,if required, he said.
Parliaments Public Accounts Committee chairman M M Joshi and Committee on Public Undertakings chief Jagdambika Pal sparred over the recent CAG reports which have put the government in the dock.
The CAG has also at times termed expeditious decisions of government as hasty. Such observations would adversely affect the decision making process in government, said Pal.
No doubt their role and responsibilities go beyond simply accounting to analysing the role and efficacy of executive decisions,but in discharge of its responsibilities the CAG has to respect certain boundaries, Pal said.
Joshi rued the erosion in the respect for constitutional provisions,institutions,procedures and rules of parliamentary conduct to an extent of open criticism of the CAG by high government functionaries.
