Delhi Speaker says assembly panel can examine CAG reports after former CM Atishi raises doubts
Days after Opposition leader
Atishi
raised questions over the powers of the
Public Accounts Committee
(PAC) to review reports from the
Comptroller and Auditor General
(CAG), Speaker Vijender Gupta clarified that any financial irregularity resulting in a loss to the exchequer can be examined by the assembly that sanctioned the expenditure, with the PAC acting as its extension.
In a letter to the former chief minister, Gupta cited
Practice and Procedure in Parliament
, a reference work detailing the PAC's core responsibilities, stating that the committee is tasked with examining cases of losses, wasteful spending, and financial irregularities. He emphasised that the PAC operates as an extension of the assembly, empowered to scrutinise such matters.
Atishi writes to Speaker
Earlier this month, Atishi wrote to the Speaker, asserting that the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of the
Delhi Assembly
does not have the authority to examine the three Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) reports on liquor supply, public health, and vehicular air pollution. These reports were tabled in the House during the first session following the formation of the BJP government and were referred to the PAC after a discussion among the MLAs.
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The AAP functionary also mentioned in her letter that following the amendment of
GNCTD Act
, the assembly couldn't make any rule to enable itself or its committees to consider the day-to-day administration of the capital or conduct inquiries in relation to administrative decisions. "For all practical purposes, this amendment takes away all powers of assembly committees," Atishi claimed.
She added that the rules of procedure and conduct of business in National Capital Territory of Delhi also limited the roles of PAC to the examination of appropriation of accounts of the capital and CAG reports thereon. "However, the three reports currently before PAC are not regarding appropriation accounts of NCT of Delhi. In fact, these reports concern themselves with policy matters and day-to-day administrative decisions taken by NCT of Delhi," the Kalkaji MLA said in her letter, adding that the CAG reports couldn't be "examined, inquired into, and a report prepared on them, when GNCTD Act expressly forbids" it.
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Responding to the letter, Gupta said Atishi's interpretation of the rules was "bereft of any merit". "In fact, it is the constitutional obligation of the CAG to present its reports to the assembly and for PAC and COGU (committee on govt undertakings) to examine it. Any irregularity, which has caused or may have caused loss to the exchequer, can be examined by the assembly, which sanctioned it," the speaker wrote.
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