SC rules out CAG audit of RAW, IB

New Delhi: The SC on Tuesday dismissed a public interest writ petition filed by the Centre for a direction to bring out a proper mechanism to ensure the accountability of IB and RAW.

New Delhi, Feb. 23: The Supreme Court on Tuesday dismissed a PIL seeking to make intelligence agencies — IB, RAW and NTRO — accountable to Parliament, saying trying to get into the domain of intelligence may create a dent in national security.

“We are not inclined to entertain this petition... Trying to get into the domain of intelligence may create dent in national security,” a bench comprising Justices Dipak Misra and Shiva Kirti Singh said while rejecting the PIL filed by NGO Centre for Public Interest Litigation (CPIL). “We do not think the court should entertain such kinds of petition which deal with security of the country,” the bench said.

The apex court had in 2013 issued notice to the Centre asking to respond on the PIL seeking to bring the agencies under the oversight of Parlia- ment and CAG.

The NGO’s petition had sought directions from the court for parliamentary oversight and financial auditing of Research and Analysis Wing (RAW), Intelligence Bureau (IB) and National Technical Research Organisation (NTRO) by CAG like in western countries.

The NGO had submitted that the agencies were being misused for political purposes and there was an urgent need to make these organisations accountable to Parliament. — PTI