The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) has got what can be described as a toehold in the auditing process of Research and Analysis Wing (RAW),the countrys premier intelligence agency. In fresh directions issued by the cabinet secretariat earlier this month,RAW has been told to submit a copy of its internal annual audit report to CAG. The report is prepared by a senior officer of the Indian Audit Service deputed to the agency. A series of follow-up steps are also listed in the communication,which has been the subject of high-level discussions over the past few months. RAWs 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. RAWs 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.
