CAG Cannot Audit Ram Mandir: Its Officer Sits on Trust Board

The Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) faces a conflict of interest as a senior officer, Ashutosh Sharma, serves on the Construction Committee of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust, which built the Ram Mandir. This raises questions about the CAG's ability to independently audit the trust's finances. In November 2024, The Probe magazine asked the then CAG, Girish Chandra Murmu, about the legal basis for this appointment. The CAG's response confirmed authorization but did not cite specific rules or the competent authority.

Rule 15 of the Central Civil Services (Conduct) Rules, 1964, restricts government servants from engaging in outside activities without prior sanction. Permitted activities include social or charitable work, but a religious trust does not fall under these categories. A 1988 office memorandum further states that employees must ensure their activities comply with conduct rules, and ignorance is not an excuse. The CAG's failure to provide a clear legal basis undermines transparency.

Even if the appointment was authorized, a second issue arises: the land for the Ram Mandir was acquired by the state under the Acquisition of Certain Area at Ayodhya Act, 1993, and vested in the trust by government order. This makes the trust a holder of public property, not a purely private entity. Defenders argue that construction was funded by donations, not public funds, but the land itself is a public resource, warranting audit scrutiny.

Ashutosh Sharma's role on the trust's committee creates a direct conflict of interest for the CAG. The CAG's response did not address how it can independently audit an entity where its own officer holds a key position. This situation challenges the CAG's constitutional mandate of impartial oversight.

In summary, the CAG's involvement with the Ram Mandir Trust raises serious ethical and legal concerns. The lack of clarity on the appointment's authorization and the public nature of the land both point to a need for independent audit. The CAG's credibility is at stake, and the issue highlights broader challenges to institutional independence in India.