Supporting the comptroller and auditor general on the presumptive loss figure in the 2G spectrum allocation, a group of former bureaucrats on Friday accused the politicians of undermining the institution.

The group, which met on Friday, pointed that the key element in parliamentary democracy is the financial accountability of the executive to parliament, which is secured through the institution of the CAG.

The former officials, "deplored the attempt that is being made to denigrate the important role of this crucial institution."

In a meeting, 20 former senior bureaucrats, including those associated with the CAG, passed a resolution supporting the CAG and lamented that the parliament's public accounts committee, which has to enforce the accountability of the executive to parliament, seems to be in "disarray" with members of both ruling and opposition parties being at loggerheads with each other.

The statement signed by S Krishnan, former additional secretary in the finance ministry and others, said the "casualty" of the development is the importance of accountability.

"The instrument of accountability (CAG) is wittingly or unwittingly being damaged, and the enforcer of accountability, parliament's public accounts committee seems to be paralysed by internal dissensions," it said.

Referring to the Rs 2,645 crore loss figure projected by former DG, Audit (Post and Telecommunications) R P Singh which was overruled by CAG Vinod Rai subsequently, the statement said it was "amazing" that the routine bureaucratic practice of superior correcting the work of a subordinate is being given a "sinister interpretation".