Prez moots more power for House panels

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, October 20

President Pranab Mukherjee today suggested giving more powers to departmental standing committees of Parliament to enable them to share burden of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC). This would scale up Executive’s transparency and accountability to the Legislature.

Pranab, who inaugurated the 28th Accountants General Conference here, said the PAC was not able to do justice in dealing with a welter of reports submitted to Parliament by the Comptroller and Auditor General of India. They could give suggestions as regards annual Budget of the government, he said.

As per norms, the PAC scrutinises reports of CAG and gives its findings and conclusions to Parliament for discussion. The President suggested to Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan, who was present on the dais, to take up the issue with the government.