SC notice to Centre on PIL over CAG appointments

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Monday issued a notice to the Central government on a plea seeking an independent and neutral process for appointing the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India. The public interest litigation (PIL), filed by the Centre for Public Interest Litigation (CPIL), calls for the creation of an independent committee, comprising the Prime Minister, Leader of Opposition, and Chief Justice of India, to appoint the CAG.

The petitioner argued that the current selection process undermines the independence of the CAG. Advocate Prashant Bhushan claimed that the CAG's independence has diminished in recent years, pointing to a decline in reports and audits, especially in states ruled by the BJP. He compared the issue to the Apex Court's interventions in the appointments of the CBI Director and CEC to safeguard their independence.

Justice Surya Kant, however, questioned whether there had been specific deviations in recent years to justify such concerns. The Bench referred to constitutional protections for the CAG but also noted that the provisions for the Election Commission were different. The Court ultimately issued a notice to the Centre on the PIL.