DEMANDS FOR CAG AUDIT OF VACCINE FIRMS

DEMANDS FOR CAG AUDIT OF VACCINE FIRMS

Subject : Polity

Context : Senior Congress leader P Chidambaram Saturday demanded a CAG audit of the capacity, production, dispatch, supply and customers’ lists of domestic vaccine manufacturers Serum Institute of India and Bharat Biotech.

Concept :

Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG)

• The Constitution of India (Article 148) provides for an independent office of the Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG).
• He is the head of the Indian Audit and Accounts Department. He is the guardian of the public purse and controls the entire financial system of the country at both the levels—the Centre and the state.
• His duty is to uphold the Constitution of India and laws of Parliament in the field of financial administration.
• The CAG is appointed by the president of India by a warrant under his hand and seal.
• He holds office for a period of six years or upto the age of 65 years, whichever is earlier.
• He can resign any time from his office by addressing the resignation letter to the president. He can also be removed by the president on same grounds and in the same manner as a judge of the Supreme Court.
• The Constitution (Article 149) authorises the Parliament to prescribe the duties and powers of the CAG in relation to the accounts of the Union and of the states and of any other authority or body.
• Accordingly, the Parliament enacted the CAG’s (Duties, Powers and Conditions of Service) act, 1971. This Act was amended in 1976 to separate accounts from audit in the Central government.