Pranab backs CAG, says not exceeding its limitations

Finance minister Pranab Mukherjee said today that the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India had not exceeded its limitations by pointing out lapses in government activities. It was the auditor's constitutional responsibility and they must do it, he said.

Finance minister Pranab Mukherjee said on Wednesday that the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India had not exceeded its limitations by pointing out lapses in government activities. It was the auditor's constitutional responsibility and they must do it, he said.

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“I don't think that CAG is exceeding its limitations. It is their constitutional role to find out financial irregularities,” Mukherjee said at the Economic Editors' conference here.

The country's official auditor has come under the scanner recently for its various reports, particularly on the Commonwealth Games and the 2G spectrum allocation that has led to the arrest of two senior ministers. The CAG has pointed to the notional loss of thousands of crores of rupees in these two scams.

Several ministers and a section of government officials have criticised the CAG for its recent reports.

“Out of 100, if the government has done 98 correct things they will ignore it. They will just pick up the two things where irregularities have taken place,” Mukherjee said.

However, the finance minister said the report prepared by the CAG was not final and it has to be examined by the Public Accounts Committee (PAC).

“CAG report is not final. It has to be examined by the PAC. Then it goes to parliament. Then parliament decides the action,” he said.