Speaker yet to take view on PAC jurisdiction
Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar has not taken any view on the controversy over jurisdiction of the Public Accounts Committee of Parliament (PAC) and the joint parliamentary committee constituted to probe the 2G spectrum allocation scam.
JPC chairman P.C. Chako and PAC chief Murli Manohar Joshi had called on the Speaker here on April 1 in this regard. But the Speaker has not taken any view on it so far.
On Monday, Dr Joshi briefed the PAC about his meeting with the Speaker when some members, especially those from the Congress party raised the issue of jurisdiction and duplication of work by the two parliamentary committees. The PAC, sources said, is determined to go ahead with its work. This was the 18th meeting of the PAC on this issue.
According to the sources, Dr Joshi had not only quoted from the book Practice and Procedures of Parliament by M.N. Kaul and S.L. Shakdhar but even brought to the notice of Mr Chacko’s rulings given by the presiding officers — V.V. Giri, Shivraj Patil and P.A. Sangma — about jurisdiction of the PAC.
The PAC, which is a constitutional body, does not want to confine its scope of probing the issue at this juncture. It can even call journalists and others for playing a role in favour of induction of A. Raja into the Union Cabinet in 2009 on the basis of taped conversation.
On Monday, the PAC quizzed corporate lobbyist Niira Radia for nearly two-and-a-half hours at Parliament House.
Sources said Dr Joshi warned Ms Radia of a breach of privilege if she did not give straight answers to the queries by the PAC. She took lunch with the PAC members.
They further said the JPC can even call those who have appeared before the PAC to give evidence. The two parliamentary committees can even call former telecom minister A. Raja, who is currently in jail, for evidence.
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