Public Accounts Committee (India)
Encyclopedia
The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) is a committee of selected members of Parliament
, constituted by the Parliament of India
, for the auditing of the expenditure of the Government of India
.
The PAC is formed every year with a strength of not more than 22 members of which 15 are from Lok Sabha
, the lower house
of the Parliament, and 7 from Rajya Sabha
, the upper house
of the Parliament. The term of office of the members is one year.The Chairman is appointed by the Speaker of Lok Sabha.Since 1967, the chairman of the committee is selected from the opposition.Earlier, it was headed by a member of the ruling party.Its chief function is to examine the audit report of Comptroller and Auditor General(CAG) after it is laid in the Parliament.CAG assists the committee during the course of investigation.None of the 22 members shall be a minister in the government.
The present PAC is headed by Dr. Murli Manohar Joshi
.
which has brought the committee to public attention. The committee, on 4 April 2011, summoned Ratan Tata
, chairman of the Tata group
, and Niira Radia, corporate lobbyist regarding the scam. PAC asked Congress members to apologise to Comptroller and Auditor General of India
for making allegations it.
Parliament of India
The Parliament of India is the supreme legislative body in India. Founded in 1919, the Parliament alone possesses legislative supremacy and thereby ultimate power over all political bodies in India. The Parliament of India comprises the President and the two Houses, Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha...
, constituted by the Parliament of India
Parliament of India
The Parliament of India is the supreme legislative body in India. Founded in 1919, the Parliament alone possesses legislative supremacy and thereby ultimate power over all political bodies in India. The Parliament of India comprises the President and the two Houses, Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha...
, for the auditing of the expenditure of the Government of India
Government of India
The Government of India, officially known as the Union Government, and also known as the Central Government, was established by the Constitution of India, and is the governing authority of the union of 28 states and seven union territories, collectively called the Republic of India...
.
The PAC is formed every year with a strength of not more than 22 members of which 15 are from Lok Sabha
Lok Sabha
The Lok Sabha or House of the People is the lower house of the Parliament of India. Members of the Lok Sabha are elected by direct election under universal adult suffrage. As of 2009, there have been fifteen Lok Sabhas elected by the people of India...
, the lower house
Lower house
A lower house is one of two chambers of a bicameral legislature, the other chamber being the upper house.Despite its official position "below" the upper house, in many legislatures worldwide the lower house has come to wield more power...
of the Parliament, and 7 from Rajya Sabha
Rajya Sabha
The Rajya Sabha or Council of States is the upper house of the Parliament of India. Rajya means "state," and Sabha means "assembly hall" in Sanskrit. Membership is limited to 250 members, 12 of whom are chosen by the President of India for their expertise in specific fields of art, literature,...
, the upper house
Upper house
An upper house, often called a senate, is one of two chambers of a bicameral legislature, the other chamber being the lower house; a legislature composed of only one house is described as unicameral.- Possible specific characteristics :...
of the Parliament. The term of office of the members is one year.The Chairman is appointed by the Speaker of Lok Sabha.Since 1967, the chairman of the committee is selected from the opposition.Earlier, it was headed by a member of the ruling party.Its chief function is to examine the audit report of Comptroller and Auditor General(CAG) after it is laid in the Parliament.CAG assists the committee during the course of investigation.None of the 22 members shall be a minister in the government.
The present PAC is headed by Dr. Murli Manohar Joshi
Murli Manohar Joshi
Murli Manohar Joshi was the Union Human Resources Development minister of India in the NDA government. Joshi is a leading member of the Bharatiya Janata Party...
.
2G spectrum scam
In 2011, the Public Accounts Committee is probing into the 2G spectrum scam2G spectrum scam
The 2G spectrum scandal involved officials in the government of India illegally undercharging mobile telephony companies for frequency allocation licenses, which they would use to create 2G subscriptions for cell phones...
which has brought the committee to public attention. The committee, on 4 April 2011, summoned Ratan Tata
Ratan Tata
Ratan Naval Tata is the present chairman of Tata Sons and therefore, Tata Group. Also, he is one among the few in the world...
, chairman of the Tata group
Tata Group
Tata Group is an Indian multinational conglomerate company headquartered in Mumbai, Maharashtra, India. Tata Group is one of the largest companies in India by market capitalization and revenue. It has interests in communications and information technology, engineering, materials, services, energy,...
, and Niira Radia, corporate lobbyist regarding the scam. PAC asked Congress members to apologise to Comptroller and Auditor General of India
Comptroller and Auditor General of India
The Comptroller and Auditor General of India is an authority, established by the Constitution of India, who audits all receipts and expenditure of the Government of India and the state governments, including those of bodies and authorities substantially financed by the government. The CAG is...
for making allegations it.