Whether the Supreme Court's interim stay on a CAG audit of private power distribution companies operating under public licences unlawfully curtails the Comptroller and Auditor General's constitutionally mandated oversight powers.
Aaj ka motion ek bahut hi mahatvapurna constitutional sawaal uthata hai — kya courts ko CAG ki statutory audit shakti ko, public utility Discoms ke sandarbh mein, seemit karne ka adhikar hai ya nahi? Yeh debate rajya star par bijli vitran aur public accountability ke beech ke nazuk santulan ko explore karegi — toh Counsel Aarav, aap shuru karein, my lord ki ijazat se.
My lord, hum is motion ke paksh mein yeh nivedan karte hain ki CAG ki statutory audit shakti, jo ek constitutional mechanism hai, public utility DISCOMs par agar courts dwara restricted kar di jaaye, to yeh ek fundamental oversight vacuum paida karega — aur taxpayer ke paison ki accountability khatam ho jaayegi. Article 141 ke tahat Supreme Court ka yeh sthaapit siddhant hai ki constitutional bodies ki powers ko unke mandate ke anusaar interpret karna zaroori hai, na ki executive convenience ke hisaab se kaat-chhantt karni chahiye. Isliye, courts ko chahiye ki wo CAG ki statutory authority ko restrict karne se parahej karein, aur ise public interest mein barhaawar rehne den.
Ref: Constitution of India · Article 141
My lord, Aarav sahab ne jo dalil rakhi hai, woh ek fundamental constitutional question ko nazar-andaz karti hai — CAG ki statutory audit shakti aur uski independence ka seedha sambandh public accountability se hai, aur courts ko iss shakti par rok lagane ka koi valid constitutional aadhar nahi diya gaya. Article 141 ke antargat Supreme Court ka established principle yeh raha hai ki audit bodies ki independence ko judicial intervention se kamzor nahi kiya ja sakta, aur Discom jaise public utility entities, jo taxpayer ke paison par chalta hai, CAG ki scrutiny se bahar nahi ho sakte. Vipaksh ka yeh maanna hai ki is motion ko sweekar karna ek khatarnak nazar'ia sthapit karega — jahan courts statutory oversight ko dilute kar dein, aur public funds ka hisab lene ki koi mazboot vyavastha na bache.
Ref: Constitution of India · Article 141
My lord, vipaksh ki dalil mein ek buniyadi khami hai — woh CAG ki statutory shakti ko limit karne ki baat kar rahe hain, lekin is motion ke liye jo authorities yahan mojood hain, unme se koi bhi CAG ke audit jurisdiction ko restrict karne ka aadhar nahi deta. Aur Article 141 ke tahat Supreme Court ka yeh established principle hai ki constitutional bodies ki shakti ko courts tabbi restrict kar sakti hain jab koi clear constitutional ya statutory mandate ho — sirf ek party ki takleef ya inconvenience ki wajah se nahi. Isliye, jab tak vipaksh koi concrete legal ground nahi dikhata, audit ki shakti ko rokna — public utility Discom mein — taxpayers ke saath seedha anay-aay hoga.
Ref: Constitution of India · Article 141
My Lord, Aarav sahab ne bahut umda baat ki — lekin yeh mat bhulaiye ki Article 141 ke tehat Supreme Court ka law sabhi courts par binding hai, aur agar Supreme Court ne CAG ki constitutional mandate ko affirm kiya hai, toh koi bhi judicial restriction us mandate ko shrink nahi kar sakti. Paksh yeh nahi bata paya ki kaunsa fundamental right — Article 19 ke tehat — CAG audit se actually curtail ho raha hai; Discom ek public utility hai, koi private individual nahi, isliye Article 19 ki shield yahan logically apply hi nahi hoti. Vipaksh ka nivedan hai: courts ka kaam CAG ki statutory shakti ko restrict karna nahi, balki public accountability ko protect karna hai — aur is motion ko reject kiya jaana chahiye.
Ref: Constitution of India · Article 141; Constitution of India · Article 19
Is debate mein ek taraf ka kehna tha ki CAG ki statutory audit authority public interest mein ek zaroori accountability mechanism hai, aur doosri taraf ka kehna tha ki yeh authority Discoms ki operational autonomy ko baadhit karti hai. Mera balanced legal SUGGESTION yeh hai: Courts ko CAG ki audit powers ko restrict karne ki bajay, audit ke scope aur procedure ko constitutional principles ke saath align karte hue transparency ensure karni chahiye — kyunki na to accountability se samjhauta hona chahiye, na hi ek legitimate public utility ki functioning mein unwarranted interference honi chahiye. Ab main citizens se request karta hoon ki is debate ko rate karein aur apni legal awareness badhayein.