For almost a year now, 25 committees of the Maharashtra Assembly that are supposed to keep a check on the working of the state government have been non-functional. While the state continues to ignore the panels, the bigger question is: why is the Opposition silent on it?
These committees look at issues such as expenditure of various departments, budget allocation and its use, irregularities, if any, in the spending, among others, and submit their report to the state for further action. Given their Constitutional status, these committees are considered “mini state assemblies”.
In Maharashtra, among those non-functional are key committees such as the Public Accounts Committee, Estimates Committee and Panchayat Raj Committee.
PAC
The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) prepares a report on the expenditures of various departments and highlights the discrepancies or irregularities in the spending the budget. The CAG sends that report to the State Assembly for further action. On the basis of the CAG’s report, the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) visits the site, summons related officers to record their statements and then submits the detailed report to the state assembly. The PAC report basically highlights if any irregularity has happened and also suggests how to control it.
ESTIMATES COMMITTEE
The Estimates Committee tracks the expenditures mentioned in the budget. They also follow up on the impact of those expenditures such as achieving the goals planned in the budget. If they come across any irregularities in this process, they call the secretary of the department concerned to record their statement and send the report to the State Assembly for further action.
This committee is also regarded as one the important committees as it tracks the irregularities in spending on schemes while actual implementation of that scheme is underway.
PANCHAYAT RAJ COMMITTEE
The Panchayat Raj Committee is a panel that keeps track of expenses and expenditures of local self-government bodies. If they find any irregularity, they have the right to call the secretary concerned and record his statement about those irregularities. They may also seek an explanation. The report of this committee helps curb corruption, which may take place at the local level.
Since last September, these 25 committees have not held even one meeting, or an inspection tour or called any concerned officer to record their statements, as the state government has suspended it.
Consequently, not a single report has been submitted to the State Assembly.
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