Some of the unfortunate events as reported in the media seemed to clearly involve breach of parliamentary privilege and contempt of the committee.It is necessary that we, the people of India, know about the political system under which we live and are governed. Its traditions and rules were shamelessly debunked by members functioning along party lines and indulging in conduct unbecoming of members of the most prestigious parliamentary committee. Lasting damage has been done to the dignity of the PAC. But because of the high esteem in which the committee is held, its recommendations are generally accepted. Also, a communiqu? may be issued after each sitting. It was in bad taste and constituted a breach of parliamentary privilege.Īll proceedings are in camera and it is not permissible for a member to communicate with the media. Recently, a Congress minister made fun of the pac chairman by referring to Joshi as "Doshi". Karanjia was summoned to the bar of the House and reprimanded. When Blitz tried to play with the name of senior leader Acharya Kripalani by misspelling it as Kripaloony, the whole House rose as one Blitz editor R.K.
Under Article 105 of the Constitution, to either cast aspersions on the work of the committee and its chairman, or attribute uncharitable motives constitutes a breach of privilege. Parliamentary control over the Government's financial activities can be meaningfully and effectively exercised largely through the mechanism of the PAC, aided by the independent constitutional office of the comptroller and auditor general (CAG). The most important aspect of this accountability is financial.
Under the parliamentary system, government is accountable to Parliament.
The PAC is one of the oldest parliamentary committees in India, having been established in 1921. Irrespective of the fate of the report and the politics of the contending parties, we need to ponder over the sad events. It is now up to the Speaker to take a decision with regard to placing it on the table of the House. Its Chairman, Murli Manohar Joshi has given his report to the Lok Sabha Speaker along with a note presumably explaining the turmoil that marked the last meeting of the committee after he had adjourned it. The institution of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) has been indelibly scarred by the events involving the indecorous conduct of some of its members.
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