HC order on CAG audit issue good sign: Cong

Congress today hailed as a "good sign" the Delhi High Court order upholding the constitutional validity of laws empowering the CAG to conduct revenue audits of private telecom firms.
"It is a good sign. It is stretching the definition of accountability and transparency," party spokesman Sanjay Jha told reporters.
He was asked to react on the order and whether it would strengthen the case of AAP government in Delhi to go in for CAG audit of private power companies.
"At the end of the day, in provision of public service, one has to ensure highest level of probity," he said.

In its order, the court said that according to the terms of licence agreements, private telecom companies had undertaken the accounting responsibility on behalf of Centre also and their accounts, in relation to revenue receipts, can be termed as the accounts of the central government also and hence, they would be the subject matter of CAG's audit.
The court order has come at a time when the Delhi government, brushing aside objections from power distribution companies (discoms) controlled by Anil Ambani and Tata groups, ordered an audit of their accounts by CAG.