On the occasion of the 100th year of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC), President Ram Nath Kovind on Saturday said that the PAC upholds prudence, wisdom and propriety in the Parliamentary system.
Kovind said Gandhiji considered account keeping as essential for clean public life. He underlined that the philosophy of public accounts has not been changed from the time of Kautilya.
PAC was constituted in 1921 in the pre-Independent India. Since the sixties, an opposition member has been heading the committee.
The PAC examines the accounts showing the appropriation of the sums granted by Parliament to meet the expenditure of the central government , the Annual Finance Accounts of the Government of India and such other accounts laid before the House as the Committee may think fit.
Several high dignitaries along with central ministers and members of Parliament of both the houses attended the function in the Parliament.
Vice President Venkaiah Naidu said, PAC reports always strive for improvement in the system. PAC has detected many financial lapses in its glorious work traditions. Naidu also suggested that Parliament should meet 100 days in a year.
Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla said this is one of the most important Committees of Parliament and complimented the PAC members for their dedication to the cause.
In his first address in the function, PAC Chairman Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury said, the PAC is committed to uphold transparency and accountability of the government money. He said the committee always acts in an impartial manner.
The President released a special souvenir depicting the 100 glorious years of PAC’s journey and 67 special articles including 15 from Commonwealth countries. Mr Kovind also inaugurated an exhibition depicting the milestone moments of PAC from 1921 to 2021.