Congress today questioned the appointment of former CAG Vinod Rai as the first Chairman of the Banks Board Bureau (BBB), recalling Finance Minister Arun Jaitley's statement, that no post-retirement job should be given to CAG, CEC, among others.
Congress chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala tweeted that Jaitley, when he was the leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha, had said the appointment of a former CAG to probe the corruption in Commonwealth Games went against the spirit of the Constitution.
"PM confers Padma award, appoints Ex CAG, Vinod Rai as Chairman, Banks Bureau. Jaitleyji said no jobs for ExCAG. Uturn," Surjewala said in a tweet today.
"Ex CAG Rai is new Chairman, Banks Board-Super Appointments Body for PSU banks. Does it not violate Art148(4) of Constitution? Quid pro quo,?" he questioned in another tweet.
Rai was the Comptroller and Auditor General between January 2008 and May 2013, during which a number of CAG reports brought to light various scams, including in the telecom and coal sectors.
His tweets came in the wake Rai's appointment as the chief of BBB, which will advise the government on top-level appointments at public sector lenders and ways to address the bad loans problem among other issues.
"I have long held the belief that all such posts that require a higher degree of autonomy and independence should be insulated from the prospect of future employment with the government," Jaitley had said as the Leader of Opposition.
He had also said, "The lure of post-retirement jobs blunts the edge of probity that should be the prerequisite for the office of the CAG, Chief Vigilance Commissioner, Chief Election Commissioner and even the higher judiciary."
"He (Jaitley had) said that when the government is in a position to offer jobs and other perks it no longer remains a neutral respondent," Surjewala said.
Another Congress leader Manish Tewari tweeted, "Feel sad for#VinodRai for all the unverified, presumptive & sensational numbers he tossed into public space all he gets is Banks Board Bureau!."
The BBB was earlier proposed by the government as a body of eminent professionals and officials, which will replace the Appointments Board for appointment of whole-time Directors as well as non-Executive Chairman of Public Sector Banks.
The bureau will give recommendations on appointment of directors in public sector banks and advise on ways to raise funds and mergers and acquisitions to the lenders.
