This refers to “Does the CAG leak defence secrets?” (August 24) by Ajai Shukla. His advocacy of the CAG performance audits for “greater public scrutiny of India’s closeted and hidebound defence establishment” is certainly well-intentioned. But the question is: what else will be brought under the purview of the CAG and what will be the implications of such a move? This needs to be addressed before our defence forces are brought under greater public scrutiny. Is the CAG free from political influence? Does the CAG possess the constitutional mandate and an institutional framework to look into the larger international contours within which defence deals take place? If the CAG exercises direct authority to scrutinise the functioning of the Ministry of Defence and its apparatus, will it not hamper the latter’s autonomy?
If defence deals have become an avenue for personal aggrandisement for some men in uniform, it is important to make sure that such deals are carried out with greater accountability.
Amit Pradhan, Subhanpura
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