Thiruvananthapuram: Keralam chief minister VD Satheesan on Tuesday questioned the Comptroller and Auditor General’s (CAG) approach to certain audits, alleging that some findings went beyond its “constitutional purview”, while asserting that legislatures could not use their majority to prevent Public Accounts Committee (PAC) scrutiny of CAG reports.
“The CAG’s audit approach sometimes shifts its manner that defeats the very purpose of the audit.
The question is, how Public Accounts Committee (PAC) could approach such audit findings?” he said.
“In a democracy, the government operates based on the trust of the people and utilises public resources for the nation’s development. “The examination of matters related to government expenditure, public schemes, the functioning of departments, and administrative processes has a direct bearing on the facilities and services available to citizens. Issues raised by the PAC, such as the operation of Anganwadi centres or the quality of catering services on the railways, serve as examples of this,” Birla added. “I think no legislature is competent to dismiss the report submitted by the CAG. What is the legislative competency? If you have a majority, you can take any decision.
Referring to the 2G spectrum audit, Satheesan said, “The estimated loss of ₹ 1.76 lakh crore in the 2G spectrum allocation was not an actual realised loss but a hypothetical, presumptive projection. It extrapolated potential revenue based on later benchmarks such as 3G spectrum auction prices and later 2014 re-auction realisation, rather than actual market conditions in 2008. Satheesan also referred to a January 2021 resolution passed by the then Kerala assembly to exclude the CAG’s audit findings on the Kerala Infrastructure Investment Fund Board (KIIFB) from PAC scrutiny.
Therefore, it is essential to ensure that public funds are used for approved purposes, in accordance with due process, and with full accountability,” he said.
Birla, in his inaugural address, said public funds must be used for approved purposes and with full accountability. He said the move had “disrupted” the normal parliamentary process and described it as an unhealthy practice. But you are not constitutionally competent to dismiss a CAG report based on your majority on the floor,” he said. Venugopal said, “The CAG should increase the number of audits and focus on important government schemes, including Poshan Abhiyaan, Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan, Swachh Bharat Mission, Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana, Jal Jeevan Mission and Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana.”
