Friday, November 11, 2011

[rti4empowerment] Undermining public accountability of Government

 

Friends,

News item from Times of India about attempt to denigrate the institution of C&AG is placed below.

Every possible effort is being made to ward off the public criticism of 2G scam, to defend the untenable decisions. Controversy on financial estimation of losses by C&AG, should be seen in this context. It is a meaningless controversy in a sub-judice matter, as can not be denied that

(i) Loss has taken place, due to wrong decisions and

(ii) Private parties have derived undue benefit, by manipulating decision-making process of the Government.

(iii) There is malafide collusion at the highest level to give undue benefit to private party.

There is need for public debate on these issues, instead of unnecessary squabble on quantification of indicative figure of losses. Auditors are required to make their own estimation and debate in Public Accounts Committee about the quantification seems to be an effort to divert attention from the basic issues.

Dhirendra Krishna IA&AS (Retired)

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Former bureaucrats come out in support of CAG on 2G issue
PTI | Nov 11, 2011, 04.15PM IST

NEW DELHI: Supporting the Comptroller and Auditor General on the presumptive loss figure in the 2G spectrum allocation, a group of former bureaucrats on Friday accused the politicians of undermining the institution.

The group, which met today, pointed that the key element in parliamentary democracy is the financial accountability of the Executive to Parliament, which is secured through the institution of the CAG.

The former officials, "deplored the attempt that is being made to denigrate the important role of this crucial institution."

In a meeting, 20 former senior bureaucrats, including those associated with the CAG, passed a resolution supporting the CAG and lamented that the Parliament's Public Accounts Committee, which has to enforce the accountability of the Executive to Parliament, seems to be in "disarray" with members of both ruling and opposition parties being at loggerheads with each other.

The statement signed by S Krishnan, former Additional Secretary in the Finance Ministry and others, said the "casualty" of the development is the importance of accountability.

"The instrument of accountability (CAG) is wittingly or unwittingly being damaged, and the enforcer of accountability, Parliament's Public Accounts Committee seems to be paralysed by internal dissensions," it said.

Referring to the Rs 2,645 crore loss figure projected by former DG, Audit (Post and Telecommunications) R P Singh which was overruled by CAG Vinod Rai subsequently, the statement said it was "amazing" that the routine bureaucratic practice of superior correcting the work of a subordinate is being given a "sinister interpretation".

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