No decision yet on making CAG a multi-member body: Government

NEW DELHI: The government on Thursday said it has not taken any decision on Shunglu Committee's suggestion of making CAG a multi-member body.

"No decision has been taken by the Government on the... suggestion (of Shunglu Committee)," Minister of State for Finance Namo Narain Meena said in a written reply to the Rajya Sabha.

V K Shunglu Committee, which was set up to look into the alleged irregularities in the 2010 Commonwealth Games projects, had submitted six reports on the projects along with a separate letter to the PMO in which it recommended making CAG a three-member body.

The Committee had suggested that one member of the CAG should posses professional accounting qualifications -- CA or transnational equivalent.

"This should not seem to exclude an IAAs officer from the triumvirate, who has wide exposure to Finance, Audit and Accounts and best international practices in these areas," the minister said while giving details of the panel's suggestion.

The Committee had also suggested that annual audit plan should be discussed by CAG with the Public Accounts Committee. The discussion should stop short of endorsement in the interest of audit autonomy, it said.

It had also suggested that the CAG accounts should be audited by a professional auditor appointed by the PAC and report of CAG should be provided to Department Standing Committees and there should be adequate opportunity to discuss issues primarily the concerns of the department.