Under the Indian constitutional scheme, how is the independence of the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) secured?
- 1. He is barred from holding any government office after the completion of his tenure.
- 2. His salary, except that of the staff, is charged on the Public Account of India.
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
- AOnly 2
- BNeither 1 nor 2
- COnly 1
- DBoth 1 and 2
Show answer and explanation
Correct answer: (c) Only 1
Explanation
Only statement 1 is correct.
- Under Article 148(4), the CAG cannot hold any further office under the Government of India or of any state after leaving office. This keeps him free of the hope of later rewards.
- The CAG's salary and the expenses of his office, including the staff's salaries, are charged on the Consolidated Fund of India, not the Public Account (Articles 112(3) and 148(6)). Charged expenditure is not voted on by Parliament. So statement 2 is wrong.
Other safeguards: removal only in the manner of a Supreme Court judge, and conditions of service that cannot be changed to his disadvantage after appointment.