News Analysis India

Tag: PAC

  • Bengal Assembly Speaker Biman Banerjee files affidavit in HC on PIL for Mukul Roy’s removal as PAC chief

    By PTI

    KOLKATA: West Bengal Assembly Speaker Biman Banerjee on Thursday filed an affidavit in the Calcutta High Court in connection with a PIL seeking removal of MLA Mukul Roy from the post of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) chairman.

    A division bench comprising Acting Chief Justice Rajesh Bindal and Justice R Bharadwaj directed that the matter will be taken up for hearing again on August 24.

    The Speaker submitted the affidavit on the appointment of Roy as the PAC chairman.

    BJP MLA Ambika Roy moved the PIL before the high court seeking removal of Mukul Roy from the post of PAC chairman of the West Bengal assembly, making the Speaker of the House one of the respondents in the petition.

    The state government has opposed the prayer claiming that it is the domain and discretion of the Speaker of the Assembly.

    The petitioner has claimed that the post of PAC chairman traditionally goes to an opposition member, but since Mukul Roy has joined the ruling Trinamool Congress after being elected on a BJP ticket, he should be removed from the post.

    Claiming that a court cannot interfere in the decisions of a Speaker concerning the business or conduct of an Assembly as per Article 212 of the Constitution, Advocate General Kishore Dutta had on July 30 contended before the court that the PIL was not maintainable and should be dismissed.

  • Bengal Assembly Speaker can file affidavit in PIL seeking Mukul Roy’s removal as PAC head: Calcutta HC

    The bench said that the speaker and other respondents, in the meantime, may file an affidavit if they wish to do so.

  • After return to TMC, Mukul Roy submits nomination for PAC member of West Bengal Assembly

    By Express News Service
    Kolkata: Mukul Roy, BJP’s former national vice-president who returned to the fold of the ruling Trinamool Congress last week, submitted his nomination for being the member of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of West Bengal Assembly.

    There is a strong buzz in Bengal’s circuit that Roy might become the chairman of the PAC.

    Speaker of the Assembly Biman Bandopadhyay said the decision would be taken following the rules of the House.

    Asked whether Roy would be the chairman of the PAC, senior TMC minister Partha Chatterjee said, “It the Speaker’s prerogative to select the chairman of any committee of the Assembly.”

    The BJP, the opposition party in Bengal, said the party was keeping an eye on the developments. Though there is no rule, traditionally the post of chairman of the PAC is given to the opposition party.

    Roy was elected from Krishnagar (North) constituency on BJP’s ticket and so technically, he is still a BJP legislator as he is yet to resign from the post of MLA. Recently, Leader of Opposition and BJP MLA from Nandigram Suvendu Adhikari wrote to the Assembly Speaker to seeking Roy’s disqualification as MLA.

  • Trump Raised Over $170 Million Since Election Day By Pushing ‘fraud’ Claims: Report

    US President Donald Trump and his Republican Party have managed to raise at least $170 million since election day by pushing unfounded “election fraud” claims. According to The Washington Post, the Trump campaign has filled its treasure chest by sending hundreds of emails and messages to supporters asking for donations in order to defend the country from election fraud. 

    The report suggests that most of the money has gone towards clearing campaign debt or to fund Trump’s “Save America” PAC, which was launched by the president days after the election in order to exert his influence on the Republican party following his White House exit. 

    The money might also be used to fund Trump’s political activities as ex-president and to pay the salaries of his team. Trump has indicated that he will re-run in the 2024 presidential election, which would make it necessary for him to remain under the limelight by conducting regular rallies, etc.