Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan emphasises on oversight function of Parliament

NEW DELHI: Parliamentary control over public expenditure is not limited to voting of funds required to run administration but also extends to ensuring that it is incurred in a prudent manner based on the policies approved by the legislature, Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan said today.

Mahajan emphasised on the importance of oversight function of Parliament in a democratic set up.

She said "parliamentary control over public expenditure is not limited only to voting of moneys required for carrying on the administration of the country, but also extends to ensuring that the expenditure is incurred in a prudent manner and that the objectives underlying the policies approved by Parliament are achieved."

Highlighting the significance of three 'Es' of economy, efficiency and effectiveness, she said they require spending less, spending well and spending wisely.

Dwelling on the important role of CAG and Parliament's Public Accounts Committee, she said government auditor and PAC together deal with accounts, audit and accountability.

She made these observations while inaugurating the All India Conference of Chairpersons of PACs of Parliament and State/UT legislatures, 2015 here today.

PAC Chairman K V Thomas highlighted the important role PAC plays in ensuring public financial accountability under a Parliamentary democracy.

He emphasised that the PAC of Parliament, which is going to complete 100 years six years from now, should not be allowed to become redundant. He also brought forth the many challenges the PAC, as an institution faces today, and outlined the need to strengthen this institution by leveraging the rising demands for transparency and accountability.

The conference is being held after a gap of 15 years and the last one was held in 2001 when N D Tiwari was heading the PAC.

Issues like giving more teeth to PAC, bringing in more transparency, non-production of records by government departments and government's response to the various recommendations made by the PAC will come up at the two-day conference.

Except Bihar and Telangana, representatives from all states and union territories are attending the meet.