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Supreme Court heard a PIL filed seeking current practice of CAG appointment be declared violative of the Constitution.
The Supreme Court underlined the need to trust institutions while hearing the plea challenging the CAG appointment. (PTI File Image)
The Supreme Court on Monday issued a notice to the Centre seeking its reply to a petition challenging the Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) appointment.
The petition sought that the current practice be declared violative of the Constitution and an independent and neutral method be introduced for appointment.
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The Centre for Public Interest Litigation (CPIL), an NGO, filed the PIL challenging the current procedure of CAG appointment. The appointment is decided by an independent committee comprising the Chief Justice of India, the Leader of the Opposition and the prime minister.
In the petition, it was alleged that the current system of the CAG appointment is hampering their independence.
“In recent times, the CAG has lost its independence,” argued advocate Prashant Bhushan, who appeared for the CPIL.
Bhushan said that if the government controls the appointments, their independence will be disturbed.
The bench, comprising Justice Surya Kant and Justice NK Singh, replied, “We have to trust our institutions also”.
Advocate Bhushan alleged that audits by CAG of states like BJP-ruled Maharashtra are being stalled.
“Where the Constitution has provided an unbridled power of appointment, should and to what extent the Court rewrite the provision?” asked Justice Kant.
The PIL also sought the court’s direction in introducing a process in which the president will appoint the CAG in consultation with an independent and neutral selection committee which will comprise the leader of the opposition (LoP), the chief justice of India and the prime minister in a transparent manner.
The PIL stated that the appointment process of the CAG should be similar to the appointment process of other bodies like the Information Commissions and the Central Vigilance Commission.
(With Inputs From PTI)