NEW DELHI: Rising tensions with
led to the
comptroller and auditor general
(CAG) deciding not to put defence audit reports on its website, former comptroller and auditor general
said in an interaction with TOI a day before he demitted office.
Mehrishi said it was decided that certain defence reports and also any future defence-related
would not be put up in view of tensions with neighbouring countries. “There was a lot of tension with Pakistan when we had tabled our report about shortage of ammunition. Though we submit our report before
and the
, it should not be easily accessible to Pakistan or China,” Mehrishi said. He cautioned the media to be careful in reporting on such issues as that adversely affects national security.
and was later appointed the home secretary for a two-year fixed tenure, just a day before his superannuation.
He said that all CAG reports, including those on defence services, are submitted before Parliament and to the PAC for scrutiny and available to all stakeholders, except that “we stopped making it a public document” where even a hostile country can access it. Even if these findings are extensively reported in the media, documented analytical findings like the CAG report should not be easily available, he explained.
“We also share copies of the defence reports with the media and expect the Press to be responsible in reporting, taking utmost care in writing about exact details of defence preparedness, whether related to arms or ammunition,” the former CAG said.
Murmu, who was given the oath of office on Saturday by the P
