News Analysis India

Tag: Public Accounts Committee

  • BJP to move HC on appointment of Mukul Roy as PAC chairman

    By PTI

    KOLKATA: BJP on Tuesday said it will move Kolkata High Court next week for speedy disposal and time bound hearing by the speaker of BJP’s objection to the appointment of its former national vice-president Mukul Roy as chairman of Public Accounts Committee (PAC).

    Leader of Opposition and BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari told reporters that Roy, who had turned up at the Trinamool Congress office days after being elected as BJP MLA from Krishnanagar North, has now sought one month’s time from Speaker Biman Banerjee to reply to the charges of the saffron party that he has been illegally appointed as PAC chairman and should be disqualified under the anti-defection law.

    Roy, who had been asked by the speaker to reply to BJP’s charges against him, Tuesday sent a letter to the speaker’s office requesting he be granted a month’s time to do so citing poor health.

    He was granted the time, an assembly secretariat official said.

    “Roy’s letter is faulty. He merely said he is unwell and needed time till the middle of September to give his side of story. But that is not enough. The speaker’s office agreed to the request. We cannot wait for this to drag on indefinitely in this way.”

    “We will move the high court next week urging the court’s direction in this matter. We are consulting lawyers,” Adhikari said.

    Referring to Roy’s comment to the media in the assembly premises that he was an MLA of BJP but was ready to work for TMC to increase the party’s base in Tripura, Adhikari said “I had commented on it on that day itself.”

    “TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee is the only person to clarify which party Mukul Roy belongs to. She and her nephew Abhisek Banerjee had embraced him with much fanfare at the Trinamool Congress office only sometime back,” Adhikari said.

    Commenting on it, TMC state general secretary Kunal Ghosh said “Suvendu should first explain if anti-defection law shouldn’t be used against his father Sisir Adhikari who is yet to step down as MP. He was elected on TMC ticket and pledged loyality to Amit Shah before assembly elections.”

    After Roy was appointed PAC chairman in the first week of July, BJP MLAs had staged a walk out from the assembly and then submitted a memorandum to the speaker demanding his removal from the post.

    The saffron party lawmakers cited documents to support their demand, video clips of Roy’s press meet at the TMC office and a screenshot of his tweet after returning to TMC.

    Roy, who had been with TMC since its inception, had left the party following differences in 2018 and joined BJP.

    He was nominated as BJP candidate in West Bengal assembly polls and won.

    But he returned to Trinamool Congress which was called ‘Ghar wapsi’ by the party.

  • 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.

  • PIL filed in Calcutta HC seeking Mukul Roy’s removal from post of Public Accounts Committee chairman

    By PTI
    KOLKATA: A PIL seeking removal of MLA Mukul Roy from the post of Public Accounts Committee (PAC) chairperson in the West Bengal Assembly was moved before the Calcutta High Court on Friday, which the state government opposed contending that the matter is in the domain of the speaker.

    The petitioner, BJP MLA Ambika Roy, 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 saffron party ticket, he should be removed from the post.

    Appearing for the state, Advocate General Kishore Dutta opposed the prayer submitting that the speaker has the sole authority in the Assembly and it is for him to decide who was eligible for the post.

    Claiming that a court cannot interfere in the decisions of a speaker when it comes to business of the House, as per Article 212 of the Constitution, Dutta argued that the PIL was not maintainable and should be dismissed.

    A division bench comprising Acting Chief Justice Rajesh Bindal and Justice R Bharadwaj directed the petitioner to submit a short note stating why this PIL is maintainable before the court by August 4. The state will be at liberty to file its reply to it thereafter, and the case will be listed for hearing on August 10, the bench said.

  • Suvendu Adhikari, other BJP MLAs meet Bengal Governor over Mukul Roy’s appointment as PAC chief

    By PTI
    KOLKATA: Leader of Opposition in West Bengal Assembly Suvendu Adhikari on Tuesday met Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar seeking his intervention in MLA Mukul Roy’s appointment as the chairman of Public Accounts Committee (PAC), maintaining that norms were not followed.

    Adhikari stated that Roy, who switched over to the ruling TMC after winning the assembly polls on a BJP ticket, should no longer be considered a member of the saffron camp, and his elevation as PAC chairman defies the well-established norm of appointing an opposition leader to the post.

    Claiming that the TMC wants to be its own judge, Adhikari alleged that the ruling party has ensured that its member gets chosen as the chief of PAC a panel that keeps a tab on government expenses to hide “questionable” pursuits.

    “We met the governor and sought his intervention as he is the custodian of the Constitution,” Adhikari, who led a delegation of BJP MLAs to Raj Bhavan, told reporters.

    Earlier in the day, eight BJP MLAs resigned as heads of Assembly panels in protest against Roy’s appointment.

    The leader of opposition further said that his party wishes to meet President Ram Nath Kovind and Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla and submit memoranda “describing how democracy is being throttled by the TMC in West Bengal with post-poll violence and unfair practices in the assembly”.

    He pointed out that Roy’s name did not figure in the list of six MLAs given by the BJP for the PAC chairman’s post.

    The BJP had been seeking disqualification of Roy as a legislator under the anti-defection law, arguing that he changes sides after his election to the assembly.

    Adhikari said that the hearing of the BJP’s application for Roy’s disqualification is scheduled to be held before the Speaker on July 16.

    Claiming that the by-polls should not be conducted in the state until the process of vaccination is over, the BJP leader said the TMC, however, is “worried” as Banerjee needs to get elected to the assembly to retain the CM’s chair.

    Adhikari defeated Banerjee in Nandigram by 1,956 votes, according to the Election Commission.

    Banerjee has moved a petition before the Calcutta High Court challenging Adhikari’s win.

  • Mukul Roy appointed as chief of Public Accounts Committee in Bengal Assembly, BJP stages walkout

    By PTI
    KOLKATA: Senior Trinamool Congress leader Mukul Roy, who recently switched over to the ruling camp in Bengal after winning the assembly polls on a BJP ticket, was on Friday appointed as the chairperson of Public Accounts Committee in the Assembly by Speaker Biman Banerjee.

    BJP MLAs, led by Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari, staged a walkout in the Assembly, protesting against this decision. Roy, officially a BJP MLA from Krishnanagar Uttar, joined the TMC last month. However, he did not resign as an MLA, despite being asked to do so several times by the saffron party.

    The TMC leader was elected as a member of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) in June. Adhikari said that an opposition MLA is usually appointed as the PAC chairman in accordance with the norm, but the TMC misused that rule to appoint Roy as its chairman.

  • Mukul Roy gets elected as Bengal Public Accounts Committee member

    By PTI
    KOLKATA: Senior TMC leader Mukul Roy was elected unopposed as a member of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of the West Bengal Assembly on Friday despite opposition by the BJP over his nomination as he was elected as an MLA on a saffron party ticket.

    Roy was among the 20 MLAs who had filed nominations for the memberships of the PAC on Wednesday.

    The PAC has the strength of 20 members.

    Nominations of all 20 candidates were found valid and they were declared elected unopposed.

    The 294-member Bengal assembly has 41 committees and the PAC works as the audit watchdog of the House.

    Speculations are rife that Roy may be appointed PAC chairman.

    The TMC had submitted 14 names, and the BJP had put forward six names.

    Roy figured in the list of 20.

    Roy, officially a BJP MLA from Krishnanagar Uttar, switched over to the TMC last week but did not resign from the assembly or was disqualified under the anti-defection law.

    On Friday, the West Bengal Assembly Secretary made the list public, which has name of Mukul Roy in it.

    Noted economist and BJP MLA Ashok Lahiri and Leader of the Opposition Suvendu Adhikari also featured in the list.

    The BJP and the TMC had got involved in a tussle after Roy, who left the saffron party to return to the ruling party on June 11, filed his nomination for induction in the PAC of the state assembly.

    The BJP had submitted a petition to state assembly speaker Biman Banerjee demanding disqualification of Roy, a legislator from Kishnanagar North constituency, under the anti-defection law since he did not resign from the party before switching sides.

  • BJP seeks cancellation of Mukul Roy’s nomination for PAC; Mamata hits back at saffron party

    By PTI
    KOLKATA: The saffron party Thursday sought cancellation of Mukul Roy’s nomination for the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) and urged the Assembly secretary to reject his candidature as his name has not been proposed by the BJP Legislature party and the TMC is ineligible to advance his nomination as he has been elected on a BJP ticket.

    Roy was among the 20 MLAs who filed nominations for memberships of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of the West Bengal assembly on Wednesday amid speculations that he may be appointed its chairman.

    The TMC has submitted 14 names and the BJP has put forward six names.

    Roy featured in the list of 20.

    Roy, officially a BJP MLA from Krishnanagar Uttar, switched over to the TMC last week but did not resign from the assembly or was disqualified under the anti-defection law.

    “We have submitted a letter to the assembly secretary objecting Mukul Roy’s nomination for the PAC membership. According to the assembly rules, either his name has to be submitted by the TMC or the BJP.”

    “The list doesn’t state on whose behalf Mukul Roy has filed nomination,” a senior BJP MLA said.

    Roy’s name has been proposed by independent member Ruden Sada Lepcha and TMC MLA Tarun Kumar Maity.

    Citing Rule no-302 of the Rules Procedure and Conduct of Business in the West Bengal Legislative Assembly, the letter by the BJP noted that the norm of electing members to the PAC is based on the Principle of Proportional Representation.

    “Proportional Representation means election of the PAC members from amongst the proportional ratio of the parties. The BJP has not recommended his name.”

    “The TMC also can’t recommend his names as he has been elected on a BJP ticket. Hence, his nomination should be cancelled,” another BJP MLA said.

    Reacting to the development, TMC chief whip Nirmal Ghosh had said the letter by the BJP neither has any legal nor constitutional sanctity.

    “The BJP leaders don’t know the rules and proceedings of the House. When the nominations for the PAC membership are submitted, it is done as members of the house and not as a member of any party,” Ghosh said.

    Meanwhile, according to sources, all the 20 nominations, including that of Roy, have been accepted after the scrutiny.

    However, the list will be officially announced later.

    The BJP legislature party is apprehensive that the post of the PAC chairman, whose selection is the speaker’s prerogative, might go to Roy as there have been instances when Congress MLAs switching over to TMC were appointed to the important posts, party sources said.

    “As per the norm, the PAC chairman post goes to the opposition party. But, in the last assembly, we saw how Manas Bhunia and Sankar Singh held the post despite crossing over to the TMC and not resigning as Congress MLAs.”

    “The speaker then had cited that they are officially opposition MLAs,” a state BJP leader said.

    The apprehensions gained momentum after West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, during a press conference, said Roy is a “BJP member” and the TMC is ready to face voting on the floor of the house on the issue of PAC chairman.

    Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari said Roy’s nomination does not matter as he would cease to exist as a house member under the anti-defection law.

    Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday said that her party is supporting Roy.

    Stating that Roy “is a member of the BJP”, she said that though anybody can file nomination its the Speaker who has the authority to take the final call.

    “Anybody can file nomination for public accounts committee (PAC). And Mukul Roy who has filed the nomination is a member of the BJP.”

    “Where is the problem? He has got the support of Binay Tamang’s party and we will also support him. Its decision of the speaker,” Banerjee told reporters at the secretariat.

    “And if there is voting, we will win. We have gained power in the state after people voted for us. We will use the same to get the right person elected (for the PAC),” the Trinamool Congress supremo said.

    The state assembly has 41 committees and the PAC works as the audit watchdog of the House.

  • Adhir Chowdhury urges Lok Sabha speaker to allow PAC meet on India’s vaccination policy

    By PTI
    NEW DELHI: Leader of the Congress in Lok Sabha Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury has urged Speaker Om Birla to allow the Public Accounts Committee of Parliament to meet and deliberate on the country’s COVID-19 vaccination policy.

    In a letter to the speaker, Chowdhury said that having an “effective vaccination policy” is the need of the hour to tackle the pandemic and the PAC should meet either physically or virtually to discuss it.

    He said the policy on vaccination has become central and is of utmost importance in these days of crisis.

    “As the lives and livelihood of the people of the country as a whole are dependant on an effective vaccination policy, I would request you to kindly permit the Public Accounts Committee to meet and deliberate upon this subject matter with the representatives of the government — the Ministry of Health, ICMR and others concerned,” he said in his letter.

    The Congress leader, who is also the chairman of the PAC, said the meeting could be by any mode, either physical or virtual, depending upon the COVID-19 situation.

    “Given the seriousness of the issues confronting us, and going by the past precedents and practise, I would once again request you to permit the committee to meet at the earliest to discuss and deliberate on the vaccination policy being pursued for tackling the COVID-19 pandemic,” he said.

    The Congress has been seeking the holding of parliamentary committee meetings virtually, if not physically, when the country is reporting over 4.5 lakh cases of coronavirus everyday.

    Chowdhury also highlighted that the Public Accounts Committee, as well as other committees, have a key role to play in the parliamentary system and no panel is in a position to meet in this critical time.

    He said that the Parliament and its committees, the Public Accounts Committee in particular, have a serious responsibility to discharge by way of discussing, deliberating and giving suggestions and recommendations on ways of tackling and resolving the problems currently confronting the antion due to the pandemic.

  • Limited ACMI systems purchased so transfer of technology not sought: Defence ministry to PAC

    By PTI
    NEW DELHI: The defence ministry has told the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) that it did not include the transfer of technology (ToT) clause in the contract for procurement of around 100 air combat manouvering instrumentation (ACMI) systems from Israeli firm BVR System as only a “limited quantity” of these systems were being purchased.

    The ACMI system provides an electronic replay of the entire combat sorties that helps in improving combat and operational skills of fighter pilots.

    “The procurement of ACMI pods and associated ground stations was for a limited quantity only and hence ToT was not envisaged at the time of procurement,” the ministry told the PAC, as per the committee’s report tabled in Lok Sabha on Monday.

    In between 2007 and 2013, the ministry had procured around 100 ACMI pods and ground stations from BVR Systems for the Indian Air Force (IAF).

    “ACMI pods are not specific to any type of aircraft and the current inventory of 100 pods is considered to be adequate to meet the needs of the IAF,” the ministry said, as per the PAC report.

    Further, the ongoing project of integration of software defined radios (SFRs) with the fighters would enable the IAF to undertake networked operations, it mentioned.

    “The training values accrued from social network operations are more enhanced as compared to that of ACMI operations. Hence for the document of pods is not envisaged,” the ministry noted.

    In February 2019, the PAC had tabled its initial report on procurement of the ACMI systems from BVR System, wherein it had asked why ToT was not included while signing the contract with the company.

    The ministry had asserted that ToT was not included in the contract as the same was not envisaged in the request for proposal (RFP) stage, but this response was considered by the PAC as inadequate.

    Therefore, the ministry gave another response, which was quoted in the fresh PAC report tabled in Lok Sabha on Monday.