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- 1972 Batch retired IAS and CAG Vinod Rai might have given sleepless nights to the government umpteen times, but Rai is of some help to the UPA government when its Attorney General GE Vahanwati dismissed an argument in Supreme Court that “loyal” bureaucrats are being appointed as Information Commissioners.
- The government’s top law officer referred to Rai’s example when the SCI bench said it would be good if independent person with legal background is appointed in the commission and “not only the retired bureaucrats who are loyal to the government”.
- Rai was secretary of financial services in North Block before becoming the UPA’s nominee as CAG.
- While serving in finance ministry, Rai was considered a loyal bureaucrat, but once he occupied the constitutional post of CAG, he turned highly independent and took a bold anti-government stand.
- Rai unleashed a number of reports including 2G spectrum and coal block allocations, which were of highly critical of the government.
- Vahanwati had to resort to Rai’s example when the Supreme Court was hearing Centre’s plea seeking a review of its ruling that people from judicial background should also be appointed as members of the Central and state information commissions.
Note: This article could an important example to be quote in mains for both Public Administration and Indian polity for the questions related to the relevance of Independent and Constitutional post.
