Manmohan Singh going by the rules

There is no statutory or parliamentary provision prohibiting the prime minister (PM) or any other minister from approaching the public accounts committee (PAC) to clarify his position on any issue. PM Manmohan Singh has expressed his willingness to appear before the PAC if asked to do so in the 2G issue.

The PM has taken the right course at a time when the CBI and other investigating agencies are investigating the scandal under the supervision of the Supreme Court, said PP Rao, noted lawyer. “It’s a fact that no minister has so for appeared before the PAC, but it doesn’t mean that Singh can’t,’’ Rao added.    

He can send a letter to the chairman of the PAC, who is always a senior member of the opposition, saying he’s ready to respond to its any query or the chairman can send him a notice, he added.

Former secretary-general of Lok Sabha Subhash C Kashyap concurred, saying, “Now either Singh can send a letter to the PAC chairman MM Joshi volunteering to respond to any query relating to the CAG report, or the chairman can send him a notice to this effect.’’

A minister is not called before the PAC to give evidence or for consultation in connection with the examination of accounts. He may appear before it if the chairman agrees. Also, it can be so arranged between the speaker, the chairman and the minister concerned that he appears on his own, added Kashyap.