ALL INDIA AUDIT & ACCOUNTS ASSOCIATION
ALL INDIA AUDIT & ACCOUNTS OFFICERS ASSOCIATION
15/1089-90, VASUNDHARA, VASUNDHARA (P.O.), Dt. GHAZIABAD (U.P), PIN-201012
Ph: 0120-2881727/4101593/ 0 – 98681 45667
Website: www.auditflag.blogspot.com
4th September 2012
P R E S S R E L E A S E
All India Audit & Accounts Association and All India Audit & Accounts Officers' Association representing Gr C and Gr B personnel of Indian Audit & Accounts Department under the Comptroller & Auditor General of India take strong exception to the vituperative attacks on the institution of CAG in the aftermath of the audit report by the Comptroller & Auditor General of India on Allocation of Coal Blocks and Augmentation of Coal Production (Ministry of Coal) in the Parliament. Many a ruling party leaders are attacking the audit report as well as the C&AG by name, attributing motives.
The audit report by the C&AG is by no means a single person's effort; it is the end product of collective effort that goes through many stages – discussion with the concerned department & Entry and Exit Conferences with the appropriate authorities in the Ministry which are laid down norms to be followed scrupulously. is a laid down norm which is religiously observed. It starts with an 'audit party' comprising of Audit officer, Assistant Audit Officer(s) and auditor. No audit report is finalised on hearsays – it is strictly on the basis of the findings from the files of the auditee department and each draft para (the initial remarks) has to be supported by key documents (KD). Before the report reaches the C&AG, the report is discussed with the officials of the concerned department/Ministry atleast at three levels. The reply of the concerned Ministry is considered carefully and incorporated in the Audit Report with suitable rebuttal at the appropriate places.
The whole of discussion in the media by the political class is without proper understanding of the processes involved in the finalisation of an audit report and how meticulously it is finalised. The final reports that see light of the day are very few compared to the paras that are raised at the initial stage on account of strict adherence quasi judicial norms to well laid down and time tested guidelines.
The Constitution of India confers the status of 'watchdog of Indian finances' to the CAG. Dr BR Ambedkar had stated in the Constituent Assembly - "I am of opinion that this dignitary or officer (CAG) is probably the most important officer of the Constitution of India. He is the person who is going to see that the expenses voted by the parliament are not exceeded or varied from what has been laid down by the parliament in what has been called the appropriation act. If this functionary is to carry out the duties – and his duties, I submit, are far more important than the duties even of Judiciary- he should have been as independent as judiciary"
It has become a fashion for the ruling parties – of Centre as well as States - to run down the CAG seeing politics in every audit report which is very detrimental to the cause of public accountability that has been mandated to CAG by the Constitution.
The observations and conclusion in the audit report on allocation of 2G Spectrum now stands vindicated by the Governments own action on deciding the minimum prices to be quoted for auction.
All India Audit & Accounts Association and All India Audit & Accounts Officers' Association deplore the politically motivated attacks on the C&AG by the leaders of the ruling parties at Centre as well as at States and request them to refrain from attributing motives to the audit reports that our members produce through their effort - in the interest of people at large and for the sake of ensuring public accountability and instead devote time on the policy that has been critically viewed in the audit report by the C&AG of India.
All India Audit & Accounts Association and All India Audit & Accounts Officers' Association call upon its field formations to hold joint protest demonstration in every office on 6th September 2012 against the unwarranted and uncalled for attacks on the institution of CAG and attributing of political motives to the audit reports of the C&AG.
Sd/- Sd/-
S. MOHAN M. S. RAJA
Secretary General Secretary General
All India Audit & Accounts Officers' Association All India Audit & Accounts Association
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