CVC asks CVOs to get CAG reports online

Harjeet Ahluwalia

New Delhi, Jan 2: In its efforts to bring about “system improvement to fight corruption”, the Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) has instructed all chief vigilance officers (CVOs) to henceforth access reports prepared by the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) displayed on the CAG website.

In earlier circulars on the subject, the commission had urged vigilance officials to pay heed to CAG reports involving vigilance angles.
Officials said the CVC had been in touch with CAG for promoting “synergy” with CAG by sharing audit reports that had a vigilance angle in acts of corruption. However, CAG is said to have suggested that its reports be accessed through its website, where they are displayed right from the date of placement.

In a recent circular, CVC has directed CVOs to access the audit reports issued from then onwards on the CAG website, “in order to identify cases of corruption ... that pertain to their organisation. In all such cases immediate action must be initiated against the public servants concerned through the standard practice of referring vigilance cases to CVC”, the circular states.

When in April chief vigilance commissioner N Vittal had decided to act suo motu on CAG reports, he had pointed out to The Financial Express that there was a lot of synergy between the two institutions of CVC and CAG. He said the CVC’s study group already had a representative from the CAG.

Mr Vittal had said he would put in place a mechanism whereby, in case an audit report threw up a case of corruption, the department in which the case came to light must know what procedure to follow in order to take action against the offending officers. Two circulars in this regard have already been issued, officials added.