PAC report not open to debate in House

NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh may have offered to appear before Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee to rebut the "propaganda" over the spectrum scam, but whatever he may say before the parliamentary body may never get debated in Parliament.
For, the rules laid down for PAC say that the reports of the committee can be discussed only in exceptional situations."Reports of the PAC are generally not discussed in the House," says "Introductory Guide" for the PAC.
Other rules also underline the limited scope of PAC’s scrutiny. Thus, while the rule book says that the ambit of the Committee goes beyond the "formality of its expenditure" to coer "its wisdom, faithfulness and economy",it makes it clear that the committee can only summon ministries and departments, not the ministers who heading them. "When any case of proved negligence resulting in loss or extravagance is brought to the notice of the Committee, it calls upon the Ministry/Department concerned to explain what action, disciplinary or otherwise, it had taken to prevent a recurrence".
The limitations of PAC’s powers are underlined by another rule in the "Introductory Guide"which says that "The Committee is not concerned with questions and policy in the broad sense. As a rule, it expresses no opinion on points of general policy." Though the same rule does say that the committee has the jurisdiction to point out extravagance or waste in implementing a policy, those conversant with the functioning of parliamentary committees are convinced that there is no way it can have the same kind of latitude as a Joint Parliamentary Committee.