CAG: After Verbal Orders to ‘Stop all Field Work’, Officers Ask for Written Orders
CAG: After Verbal Orders to ‘Stop all Field Work’, Officers Ask for Written Orders
It is reliably learnt that the CAG, G.C. Murmu, is 'not signing' on any fresh reports. After The Wire published its reports, the CAG, in a press release, called them 'erroneous and baseless'.
This is the best summary I could come up with:
In addition, CAG Girish Chandra Murmu is said to be “not signing any report” that necessarily needs to bear his signature, along with that of the officer-in-charge, invariably an officer of the Indian Audit and Accounts Service (IA&AS).
The then defence minister, George Fernandes, had to resign after ‘Coffin-gate’, which involved a CAG report on high expenses incurred in the purchase of caskets for Indian soldiers killed in action.
Later, as Vinod Rai released audit reports on the Commonwealth Games 2010, 2G spectrum and coal policies, it led to a severe erosion of public faith in the UPA.
The last monsoon session of Parliament saw 12 CAG reports being placed on the floor of the house, severely castigating some Union government ministries and departments, and pointing to irregularities in Modi’s flagship schemes, especially those in health and building roads.
<span></span> Update at 5 pm on October 13 The CAG, having chosen to not respond to queries which The Wire sent them prior to publication of both the reports carried on October 11 and 13, has later on October 13 issued a press release saying the news story on transfers of certain key CAG officers shortly after the publication and presentation of 12 reports highlighting irregularities in the functioning of Union government ministries and departments, and the news story of verbal orders ‘to stop all field work’, are “erroneous and baseless.” As per CAG, “matters of transfer and postings are a matter of administrative convenience and to read ulterior motives into these is highly presumptuous.” They add that “audit reports are prepared by an extensive team over a prolonged period, comprising officers entrusted with field work, central processing and finalisation at the highest level.
CAG says it “is committed to fulfilling its mandate of ensuring transparency and accountability in governance; and is confident of surpassing previous years’ output.” This, it says “would not be possible if there was even the slightest truth in the alleged contention that field audit has been suspended.
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