Today, On 17th March, The Supreme Court sought a response from the Centre on a PIL challenging the current process of appointing the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG). The petition also requests that the CAG be appointed by the President in consultation with an independent and neutral selection committee. The PIL argues that the current appointment process lacks transparency and independence.
New Delhi: The Supreme Court requested the Centre’s response regarding a public interest litigation (PIL) that challenges the current practice of appointing the Comptroller and Auditor General of India exclusively by the executive and the Prime Minister, claiming it violates the Constitution.
A bench of Justices Surya Kant and N. Kotiswar Singh issued a notice on the PIL filed by the NGO, Centre for Public Interest Litigation, and associated it with an existing case on the same issue.
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Advocate Prashant Bhushan, representing the NGO, argued that the matter pertains to the independence of the institution and alleged that audits conducted by the CAG in states like Maharashtra, where the BJP holds power, are being obstructed.
The PIL also requested the Court to mandate that the CAG be appointed by the President in consultation with an independent and neutral selection committee, which would include the Prime Minister, the Leader of the Opposition (LoP), and the Chief Justice of India, ensuring a transparent process.
It further stated that the appointment procedure for the CAG should align with that of other bodies, such as Information Commissions and the Central Vigilance Commission.
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The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India is appointed following a specific procedure outlined in Article 148 of the Indian Constitution. Here’s the step-by-step procedure:
1. Appointment Authority
- The President of India appoints the CAG.
2. Eligibility & Qualifications
- The Constitution does not specify qualifications, but traditionally, the appointee is a senior bureaucrat, often from the Indian Audit and Accounts Service (IAAS).