In an interesting development, a group of former deputy CAGs has approached the Supreme Court seeking a collegium system for the appointment of the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG). They have filed a PIL seeking interpretation of Article 148 of the Constitution by prescribing a collegium system.
The post of CAG is a constitutional position that enjoys the same status as a judge of the apex court. In both cases, the appointments are made by the President with a retirement age fixed at 65, and their removal from office entails impeachment by both Houses of Parliament.
The Indian Accounts & Audit Service veterans also challenged the vacuum in Article 148, which does not lay down any specified procedure for the appointment of a CAG. At present, a panel of names is suggested by the cabinet secretary to the PM, who then recommends one name to the President for appointment as CAG.
The collegium, as suggested by the PIL, should comprise the speaker of Lok Sabha, LoP in Lok Sabha, chairman of the Public Accounts Committee (a position held by an opposition leader), and the CJI or his nominee.
The PIL petition, signed by three deputy CAGs—Anupam Kulshreshtra, Arun Kumar Singh, and Sangita Chandrakant Choure—is yet to come up for hearing as the central government has not filed its response to the notice served by the SC.
