Success Samrat

Article 148 states that there shall be the Comptroller And Auditor-General Of India. Who controls the entire financial system of India.

The Comptroller And Auditor-General Of India is the guardian of the public purse and controls the entire financial system of India at both the levels- the centre and state.  Under the Government Of India Act, 1935, there was an Auditor-General and the Act secured the independence of the office. He can only be removed in like manner and on the grounds as a Judge of the Federal Court. Therefore the office of the CAG has been inherited from the Government Of India Act, 1935.

A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE OFFICE

• IN 1858 THE OFFICE OF THE ACCOUNTANT GENERAL WAS ESTABLISHED.
• IN 1860 SIR EDWARD DRUMMOND FIRST AUDITOR GENERAL.
• IN 1866 AUDITOR GENERAL BECAME THE COMPTROLLER GENERAL OF ACCOUNTS.
• IN 1884 THE POSITION WAS RENAMED AS THE COMPTROLLER AND AUDITOR GENERAL OF INDIA.
• IN 1919, UNDER THE GOVERNMENT OF INDIA ACT THE OFFICE BECAME INDEPENDENT.

Article 148- Deals with the Appointment, Oath and the Conditions of Service-

• There shall be Comptroller And Auditor-General Of India who is appointed by the President of India and can be removed from his office in like the manner and on grounds as the judge of the Supreme Court of India i.e impeached. The grounds are –
  • Proved misbehaviour.
  • Incapacity.
• Oath– Section IV of the Third Schedule of the Constitution of India prescribes the form of oath or affirmation be made by the Judges of the Supreme Court and the Comptroller and Auditor-General of India at the time of assumption of office.
• The term of the office is for six years or 65 years. Which so ever is earlier. He may resign from the office by addressing it to the President of India.
• The salary of the CAG is charged on the Consolidated Fund Of India and is non-votable. The salary of the CAG shall be equal to the salary of the Judge of the Supreme Court of India.
• Once retired, not eligible for further office either under the Government of India or State Governments.

Article 149- Duties and Powers of the Comptroller And Auditor-General Of India-

• To audit and report on all the expenses charged on the Consolidated Fund of India, its States and the Union Territory with a Legislative Assembly.
• To audit and report on all the expenses charged on the Contingency Fund of India and the Public Accounts of the Union and the States.
• To audit and report on all trading, manufacturing, profit and loss accounts, balance sheets and other subsidiary accounts kept by any department of the Union government and the State governments.
• To audit and report on the receipts and expenditure of all bodies and authorities that are financed by the Central or State revenues, government companies, corporations and other offices.
• Article 150- Advices the President of India with regard to prescription of the form in which the accounts of the Centre and the states shall be kept.
• Article 151-The reports of CAG relating to the Accounts of the Central Government shall be submitted to the President of India. The president will lay it before the parliament. In the case of the State, the reports are submitted to the Governor. He lay it before the legislature of the State.
• Article 279(i)- CAG has to ascertain and certify the net proceeds of any tax or duty mentioned in the Chapter-I of Part XII of the Constitution Of India.