The Hindu : Front Page : PAC has no power to summon any Minister: Joshi

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Dec 28, 2010
ePaper | Mobile/PDA Version

Front Page

Front Page

PAC has no power to summon any Minister: Joshi

Sandeep Joshi

NEW DELHI: Chairman of the Parliament's Public Accounts Committee Murli Manohar Joshi said here on Monday that Comptroller and Auditor-General of India Vinod Rai, who appeared before the panel to give his views on the 2G spectrum allocation scam, told the PAC that the “presumptive loss” figures were arrived at using the “best practices” applied internationally.

Pointing out that the figure of presumptive losses could be debated vis-à-vis whether to take the lowest amount or the highest amount, the senior BJP leader said: “The committee will examine the issue and reach its own conclusion on the appropriate losses.”

Referring to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's letter to the PAC offering to appear before it, Dr. Joshi said: “The PAC has no power to summon any Minister…But this case is different because the Prime Minister has himself offered to appear. This is not a case of summons.”

During the PAC meeting, Congress members reportedly insisted that Dr. Singh be called for “consultations,” while non-UPA members are believed to have cited rules and procedures to claim that they do not permit the Prime Minister's appearance before the committee.

On the BJP's demand for a JPC to probe the issue, Dr. Joshi said the PAC Chairman did not belong to any party. “It [JPC probe] was for the government to decide…that does not come within our purview.”

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Front Page