This refers to the column “Comptroller & Activist General?”(Raisina Hill, April 10). The active role of the CAG can be traced to the recent incumbents, some of whom are “activists”. Like most government offices, the senior-most officers in the CAG’s office become eligible for CAG’s post (by virtue of seniority) and so they have the opportunity of becoming important (or controversial) at the fag end of their career. Till 2007, the incumbents donned quite a traditional role and have never been controversial. During the past five years, the incumbents have toed an aggressive line and have, thus, hogged the media limelight. The media, too, took advantage of the exaggerated versions of the CAG’s reports. Just one fact is sufficient to confirm this point. The loss incurred by the exchequer due to the 2G spectrum auctions as reported by the CAG has been contested in several circles. And nobody till date knows the actual loss.
K V Rao Bangalore
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