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Journalism of Courage
Agreeing with its amicus curiae that there is a lack of political will,the Supreme Court on Monday criticised the government for not taking action against officials despite a Comptroller and Auditor General report citing lapses in the purchase of defence equipment during the 1999 Kargil war.
Senior advocate and amicus curiae Rakesh Dwivedi referred to the CAG report to point out that nearly 75 per cent of the Rs 2,163 crore worth of supplies during the military operations had not served its purpose as they were received after the hostilities ceased.
We are not happy at all. We do not want to be harsh with you in the case. We have been accommodating but this cant go on, the apex court Bench told the government.
The brief hearing on Monday came to an end with the case slated for further hearing on November 28. The court was hearing a PIL alleging a scam related to defence purchases for Operation Vijay in Kargil.
The CAG had found lapses in 35 cases. However,the defence department had refused to accord sanction for prosecution of the officials claiming there was no substance in 28 cases.
Most of the time,CAG reports are not given their due. The department attaches no value to the institution but the Constitution gives the CAG a position of primacy, the Supreme Court had observed.
