Role of CAG in disposing out corruption

Role of CAG in disposing out corruption

By Manohar Manoj, Editor, Economy India

We keep talking about framing of stern anti corruption laws in forms of Lokpal, Anti whistleblower Act, making CBI fully autonomous like that. However, we never talk about our inherent organization CAG, which is a constitutional body also and it is bound to be followed by the both central and state legislative institutions of the country also. CAG is such an important rather most authentic and most operational anti corruption organization we have in the country. I think, CAG is rather more relevant and more purposeful than the institution like judiciary; if not the whole judiciary rather that part of the judiciary, which deals with the several corruption cases and other anti corruption agencies like CVC and CBI. I think, out of all these organization CAG is more effective, descriptive and authentic as an anti corruption body.

                There was a time when we started to regard our Election commission one of the prime reformative institution of the country, the day T N Sheshan became its chief commissioner; otherwise central election commission was never taken as fearsome or noticeable organisation in regards to the electioneering in the country. Because, before Mr. Sheshan, CEC never showed its real guts what constitution had empowered it. However, some bit cynic and some bit authoritative attitude of T N Sheshan brought this Election commission as a true watchdog institution of electioneering system of world's largest democracy. And it is still following that suit. All CEC in the post Sheshan era have shown their guts as well and Indian electioneering system has improved a lot during last 20 years or so. Same way we started to notice the CAG organization, the time Mr. Vinod Rai took over its rein.

                The series of reports prepared by CAG over 2 G scam, Coal block allocation scam, Commonwealth games function scam, Airport privatization scam, Audit reports of various subsidies given by the central govt. and also some states' audit especially over the performance of their PSUs, were proved to be eye opener to many of us.

Now days, the quality of CAG reports have improved a lot. Their account audit, performance audit, their reports, suggestion and their recommendations have been showing, what is called the good governance? It has clarified that how various departments violate the administrative guidelines, basic principles of the various govt. schemes, the misappropriation of public funds, the expected loss of government's revenue, the misuse of public fund and siphoning of allocated money, they all have been marvelous deeds of CAG. Before Mr. Vinod Ray this CAG was also doing just a routine kind of work like CEC in pre Sheshan era. However, these CAG reports, which came under the rein of Vinod Rai, if it were not gone in to the den of media houses and have  a entrance in the public domain, these CAG reports too were not to be so effective like pre Vinod Rai’s CAG era. Still CAG reports are presented to the president in regards to Union govt. and to the governor in regards to the states affairs. Then, it is tabled in the parliament and state legislature subject to the area of audit. Chairperson, PAC (public account committee) does the last rituals. Chairperson, PAC sends the objection mentioned by CAG to the concerned ministries and their departments and asks clarification over them. PAC asks for ATR (action taken report) on behalf of government depts. subject to the CAG reports. As per the latest information, there is huge backlog of ATR , which are not submitted by the concerned ministries and the departments to the Chairman; PAC.

 It is very unfortunate that parliament never follows up even those tabled CAG reports, which is already complete in itself. However, parliament has every right to convene post expenditure debate in the parliament under article 113(1) of the constitution. But , it never happens. It means all hard work done by the CAG goes in vain. So our point is  that the organization like CAG ,which is in fact most bona fide anti corruption organization in the country, particularly in context of dealing with all monetary corruption occurring in the country, why its reports are left in so passive mode? Why, are we not giving it a penalizing right to dispose the corrupt activities in full and final manner. Within its prescribed mandates, CAG finalizes hundreds of reports every year related with corruption, malfunctioning, misgovernance and maladministration of the various union and state departments and  their PSUs . Whereas, institutions like Courts and investigative agencies like CBI, CVC does not have satisfactory compliance records over the issues of corruption.

We all know courts take long time to dispose any corruption or fraud cases. It has a long process of hearing and witness. We have many examples like fodder scam, Jayalalita asset case etc which took long time before the final verdict came. CBI has been always rated as a tool of the government, sitting in the power, which also takes long time in completing its process and also its conviction ratio is not very high. In this context will it be not better to grant additional penalizing power to CAG in order to finally dispose the corruption cases in larger volumes and in immediate time bound manner.