COMPTROLLER AND AUDITOR GENERAL
ü The
Audit and Accounts Department was first created during British rule in 1753.
ü DR B R AMBEDKAR:
The CAG is the most important officer
under the constitution of India.
ü CAG
is the head of Indian Audit and Accounts Department.
ü Up
to the year 1976 the functions of Accounting and Auditing were combined in the
office of the CAG.
ü Since
the year 1976 the CAG is relieved from the responsibility of the compilation
and maintenance of accounts of Central government.
ü Since
1976, the CAG is concerned with the auditing only.
ü NOTE:
At the state level these two responsibilities are not separated.
ü The
CAG is the guardian of Public purse (government money).
ü The
CAG is an agent of the Parliament.
ü The
CAG is the Watchdog of the Indian Public Finances.
ü There
are 4 bulwarks (Security, Fortification) of the democratic system of government
in India.
·
Supreme Court (SC)
·
Election Commission (EC)
·
Union Public Service Commission (UPSC)
·
Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG)
APPOINTMENT:
ü The
CAG is appointed by the President.
TENURE:
ü The
CAG holds the office for a period of 6 years
OR
ü Up
to the age of 65 years whichever is earlier.
RESIGNATION:
ü The
CAG submits the resignation letter to the President.
REMOVAL:
ü This
is mentioned in Articles 148 (1) and 124 (4).
ü The
CAG is removed by the president of India only in accordance with the procedures
mentioned in the Constitution.
ü The
CAG is removed by the President of India in the same manner and same grounds as
a judge of Supreme Court.
SALARY:
ü The
Salary and other service conditions of CAG are decided by the Parliament.
AFTER
RETIREMENT:
ü The
CAG after retirement is not eligible for further office either under the
government of India or government of a state.
FUNCTIONS OF
CAG:
ü ARTICLE 149:
This article of the Indian Constitution authorizes the parliament to prescribe
the duties and powers of the CAG.
ü The
CAG audits (verifies) the accounts related to the expenditure incurred by the
Central and State governments.
ü The
CAG compiles and maintains the accounts of the state governments.
ü The
CAG also audits the accounts of the bodies and authorities financed by the
Central and state revenues like corporations and companies.
ü The
CAG audits the accounts of any authority when requested by the President or
Governor.
ü The
CAG as an agent of the parliament conducts the audit of expenditure on behalf
of the Parliament.
ü The
CAG is responsible only to the Parliament.
ü The
CAG acts as a friend, philosopher and guide of the Public Accounts Committee
(PAC).
ü Note:
PAC is explained in the chapter on Parliamentary Committees.
SUBMISSION OF
REPORT BY THE CAG:
CENTRAL GOVERNMENT
REPORT:
ü The
CAG submits the report relating to the accounts of the central government to
the President of India.
ü The
President places the report in the parliament.
STATE
GOVERNMENT REPORT:
ü The
CAG submits the report relating to the accounts of the state government to the Governor
of the concerned state.
ü The
Governor places the report in the State Legislature.