'CAG reports useful but House view must prevail'

Planning Commission Deputy Chairman Montek Singh Ahulwalia on Saturday said Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) reports were useful inputs, but it should be Parliament's views that prevailed, as observed by apex court. "They (two Supreme Court judges) have gone out of their way to say CAG is a constitutional authority. Its report is a useful input. It should be considered by the PAC (Public Account Committee). It is the view of PAC then that prevails, and subsequently it is the view of Parliament that should come," Ahluwalia said while addressing FICCI's 86th annual general meeting. According him, CAG is a statutory body and has the right to put its criticism on the policy. "What is not being realised is that a pronouncement by the CAG is not a pronouncement by Supreme Court. When the Supreme Court says this is the law, whether you like it or not, that is law. You have no alternative but to go and amend it, " he said. Ahluwalia suggested that there should be coordination among the various government wings, saying it works in silos. The Cabinet Committee on Investment is an effort to enhance that coordination to clear infrastructure projects that have been stuck up for want of regulatory approvals from the various ministries. About economy, he said that it has been going through a slowdown and government recognised the industry's view that something should be done about that.