CAG drops audit of Padma Awards

After a perceived turf war and difference of opinion within, the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) has ordered that an audit of Padma Awards be dropped forthwith.

"We need to get our priorities right. On one hand, we complain of shortage of staff and inadequate manpower, to conduct regular audit. On the other hand, we delve into a realm where ab-initio our mandate can be contested.

"I feel this has been rightly contested by the MHA [Ministry of Home Affairs]," CAG Vinod Rai has said in a communication to the Director General Audit Central Expenditure (DGACE) Roy S Mathrani.

Mathrani was enthusiastic about conducting an audit of 'Management of Padma Awards' and had complained that the Home Ministry had refused to give records in April.

 

He even wrote to Home Secretary in June, a move which was not approved by the CAG. "I am also surprised that correspondence has been undertaken with the Secretary Home on an issue which at best can be peripheral for the audit establishment," Rai said in his letter.

Sources said the DGACE was interested in auditing the nomination process of Padma Awardees and had sought records on the same from MHA.

They said CAG gives full autonomy and freedom to its field offices to conduct audit and also full consideration to their opinion, but government policy issues do not come under CAG mandate.

"At no point of time do I want our turf to be questioned. In this case, it has. We may be on grounds, which can be contested," Rai said.

Padma Awards were instituted in the year 1954 and is given in three categories-- Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan and Padma Shri.