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LATEST NEWS UPDATES | 'Arbitrary' Method Used to Appoint New CAG, Despite Modi Government's Talk of Transparency -Gaurav Vivek Bhatnagar

'Arbitrary' Method Used to Appoint New CAG, Despite Modi Government's Talk of Transparency -Gaurav Vivek Bhatnagar

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published Published on Sep 13, 2017   modified Modified on Sep 13, 2017
-TheWire.in

According to NGO Common Cause, Modi missed an opportunity to to set a high benchmark to fight systemic corruption by not putting in place an accountable system to appoint the new Comptroller and Auditor General.

An NGO that played a critical role in transforming the way natural resources are allocated by filing PILs in the coal block allocations and 2G spectrum allocation cases, has criticised the Narendra Modi government for following “exactly the same practice and procedures as the predecessor UPA government in the appointment of the new Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India.”

Common Cause, which has been making interventions in issues of public concern, has said that “Modi government, which claims to have zero tolerance for corruption, has missed a golden opportunity to set a high benchmark to fight systemic corruption by putting in place an objective and accountable system of appointment for the crucial constitutional post.”

Critical of the manner in which a former secretary was selected for the post, Common Cause has noted that “by following the footsteps of the UPA, the NDA government has lost an opportunity to create an institutional criteria to make the selection process impartial and transparent in order to fight the systemic corruption.”

“The prime minister,” the group said, “could have easily opted for an interim arrangement similar to the framework that exists for appointment to NHRC, CVC and CIC.” All that was required were a combination of legislative and institutional reforms aimed at making the selection process objective, broad-based and transparent.

Opaque and arbitrary appointment policy

However, Common Cause noted with concern that “for last many years the government has been following an opaque and arbitrary method in making appointments to the post of the CAG. The criteria on the basis of which the selections are made are shrouded in secrecy. It is understood that the government follows an unwritten principle that only an officer holding the post of secretary to the government of India should be appointed to the post. Notwithstanding the fact that some of the individuals appointed to this constitutional office have acquitted themselves with credit, such a policy is conceptually flawed and may give rise to a serious situation of conflict of interest.”

It said “if the objective is to select the most suitable candidate, the appointing authority ought to consider a much larger field of candidates, who should not only possess the requisite experience of financial management, audit and accounting procedures, but also have a deep understanding of the complexities of governance and a vision of the future of our democratic polity.”

The Centre had on August 31 announced the appointment of then outgoing home secretary Rajiv Mehrishi as the next CAG. Mehrishi, who had earlier also held the post of economic affairs affairs secretary, is now due to take charge as the CAG on September 24. He would be the second home secretary after T.N. Chaturvedi to occupy the constitutional post.

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TheWire.in, 13 September, 2017, https://thewire.in/177119/new-cags-appointment-opaque-arbitrary/


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