President Ram Nath Kovind speaking at the centennial year celebration of Public Accounts Committee (PAC) in the Central Hall of Parliament House on Saturday.Sitting on the dais (from left): Rajya Sabha deputy chairperson Harivansh, Vice-President M Venkaiah Naidu, Lok Sabha speaker Om Birla and PAC chairperson Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury.Lok Sabha photo NEW DELHI: President Ram Nath Kovind on Saturday said that in a democracy, Parliament is the embodiment of the people’s will and parliamentary committees work as its extension and enhance its functioning.
Speaking after inaugurating the centennial year celebration of Public Accounts Committee ( PAC ) in the Central Hall of Parliament House, the president said that accountability is central to governance in parliamentary democracy.As it is Parliament that grants permission to the executive to raise and spend funds, it has the duty to assess if funds were raised and spent accordingly or not.
He said, “Parliamentary committees, especially the PAC, ensure administrative accountability of the executive towards the legislature.Without them, a parliamentary democracy would be rendered incomplete.
It is through the PAC that citizens keep a check on the government finances.”
Invoking Mahatma Gandhi, the president said the PAC has lived up to the Gandhian ideals and expectations.Its record over the decades has been commendable and exemplary and its functioning has been praised by independent experts too.
The president further added that the committee has examined public expenditure not only from a legal and formal point of view to find out technical irregularities, if any, but also from the point of view of the economy, prudence, wisdom, and propriety.
Expressing hope, Kovind said that the centennial celebration of PAC would provide an ideal platform for discussion of ways to make the executive more accountable and thus to improve people’s welfare.
On the occasion, President Kovind released the Centennial Souvenir of the PAC.He also inaugurated an exhibition showcasing the century-long journey of the committee.
Vice-President and Chairman of Rajya Sabha M Venkaiah Naidu
Vice-President and Chairman of Rajya Sabha M Venkaiah Naidu, who also spoke along with Lok Sabha speaker Om Birla and PAC chairperson Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury , said PAC in addition to Public Estimates Committee and Public Undertakings Committee constitutes the triad of “permanent vigilance” over governmental activities and the attendant expenditure.
Naidu said in developing economies where management of public finances has been a major issue of concern, PAC seeks to check wasteful expenditure by seeking to ensure accountability, transparency and good governance.
He said the reports of PAC and constant monitoring by it through action taken reports result in continuous improvement in the system of governance and policy.
By doing so, PAC has enhanced the respect of the people for the ‘oversight’ function of the Parliament, he added.
Lok Sabha speaker Om Birla
Lok Sabha speaker Om Birla highlighted the role of democratic institutions in nation building and said these institutions are being seen today as effective platforms to solve the problems of the people and fulfill their expectations.
The speaker said our biggest achievement has been that despite several problems, in these seven decades, we have emerged as the largest and most effective democracy in the world.
He said the main responsibility of the democratic institutions is to make the government accountable, accountable and transparent to the people.Parliamentary committees have contributed significantly in making this possible through their functions.In its journey of 100 years, the PAC has made a significant contribution in maintaining the supremacy of the Legislature and Parliament, Birla said.
Speaking on the role of the PAC, the speaker said that in a developing country like India, the constructive suggestions of this committee have not only promoted the optimal use of financial resources but have also helped in improving the policies and programs of the government.Non-partisan functioning of Parliamentary Committees and the tradition of generally accepting the recommendations of the committee by the government show the maturity of our parliamentary system, he said.
Birla emphasised on the need for better coordination of the PACs at the central and state levels and suggested that since there are many issues of common interest between them, there should be one common platform for PACs of Parliament and the state legislatures.This will ensure better coordination and greater transparency and accountability of the executive, he added.
Public Accounts Committee chairperson Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury
PAC chairperson Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, who is also the leader of the Congress party in the Lok Sabha, said on the occasion that the committee works on non-party lines with a spirit of dedication and service to the country.“This has enabled the PAC to function as a united team and adhere to the healthy convention of submitting unanimous reports which truly reflect the non-partisan spirit of the committee,” he said.
Chowdhury added that during the 100 years of its existence, the PAC has broken new grounds in many fields, and extended the scope of its examination.Over the decades, the examination of accounts by the PAC has accomplished the aim of enforcing public accountability in the transactions of Government business.And in this manner, the committee contributes towards maintaining the standard of efficiency and financial propriety in the running of the administration, he said.
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