Minister of State in the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) V Narayanaswamy's statement the Union government was "actively considering" a multi-member Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG), as suggested by former CAG V K Shunglu, today led to a huge political upheaval. Opposition parties and social activists alleged the government was trying to keep a lid on corruption.
Under no circumstance can the government, with its current strength in the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha (where it is in minority), bring about such a change. The position of CAG is a constitutional one and any change in its office, duties, and conditions of service entail a constitutional amendment, according to Section 148-151 of the Constitution. The terms of his service, the Constitution says, can never be amended to the CAG's disadvantage.
However, this has failed to dampen the uproar over Narayanaswamy's remarks. Anti-corruption activist Arvind Kejriwal and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) slammed the government on the issue, accusing it of trying to suppress the constitutional office. "The government's intentions are not correct. When CAG was coming out with strong reports, the government tried to suppress it. Politicians should not decide the selection of members of the CAG. Neither the government nor the opposition (should have a say on the matter)," Kejriwal said. He, however, didn't specify which authority should appoint the CAG.
"Whenever the Congress is in trouble or faces criticism, it tries to weaken the institutions, if these are constitutional bodies," said senior BJP leader M Venkaiah Naidu. He added the supersession of judges, appointing its "favourites" to the Election Commission of India or the Central Vigilance Commission weren't new to the Congress. "Now, (there's) this threat of active consideration of making the CAG a multi-member body," he said, adding, "This is a clear attempt to muzzle the incumbent and weaken the institution. They have the track record of destroying the institutions from time to time."
"If you go for any misadventure like the previous occasion, it is bound to boomerang on you and you will face the consequences," he warned the Congress.
