“You file it in the registry,” the bench said. Earlier, the single judge bench had not only refused to stall the CAG audit of the discoms but also asked them to co-operate with the top auditor by furnishing the details sought. “This court is of the view that these matters require detailed hearing. Issue notice....However, the prayer for the stay on the audit/impugned order (of Delhi government) is declined. The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India shall not submit the report (to the government) till March 19, next date of hearing,” the court had said.
Discoms had moved the court against the January 7 decision of the Aam Aadmi Party-led government ordering CAG audit, saying the top auditor is not empowered to scrutinize accounts of private companies.
Prashant Bhushan, appearing for Delhi government, had opposed the plea of the discoms that CAG was not empowered to audit them and rather sought transfer of the pleas to a division bench which is hearing a PIL on the same issue.
Senior advocate Harish Salve, appearing for the Tata firm, had said the CAG Act provides for “safeguard” and deals with “body and authorities”, besides the central and state government and their companies, which can be subjected to an audit by CAG and private firms cannot be audited by the auditor.
