CAG REPORT NOT A FAIRYTALE WITH HAPPY ENDINGS

The Comptroller and Auditor General's report is “not a fairytale, always with happy endings,” but, an “objective report” compiled by professionals.

A senior official from the CAG’s office, said on condition of anonymity, that the CAG comes up with an objective audit report annually after going through painstaking process of checks and balances and giving ample space for the government to present its side of the story.

“The CAG’s report is not a fairytale with happy endings as some would wish, it is objective and state what are facts,” the official said after Meghalaya Speaker, Charles Pyngrope raised doubts about the report’s trustworthiness.

Pyngrope said that the CAG’s report is “not the gospel truth” and therefore not above suspicion. He was reacting to charges of financial mismanagement of his predecessor, MM Danggo as exposed by this year's CAG report.

Earlier this year, Union Telecom Minister, Kabil Sibal defending his colleague and predecessor, A Raja, similarly challenged the CAG report, which estimated a loss of Rs. 1.76 lakh crore to the Indian nation in 2G spectrum allotments.

The Supreme Court later criticised Sibal for undermining the CAG report. The CAG’s office also stood by it report, saying, the data and estimated loss was corrected.

Meanwhile, the official here said all data reflected in the annual audit report are screened from government files. “We visit state government department and ask for details and the report is prepared based on those data,” the official said.

Once the draft audit is prepared, he added, it is sent to the concerned departments for their comments and feedbacks. “This process is repeated twice not once. If there is any mistake in the draft audit and is pointed out by the government, we correct it,” he said.

Moreover, professionals visit and conduct physical verification and finally the report is compiled and presented to the Assembly.

He added the CAG’s office is constitutionally mandated to audit the government’s finance and if there are any government wrongdoings it gets reflected, which eventually becomes an unhappy report for some.