PAC on pause

Dysfunctionality of bodies to hold state officials accountable is a threat to the republic.

The Public Accounts Committee of the House of Representatives is again in the news, and again for the wrong reason. In the not too distant past, the committee’s decisions used to spark vital public debates. But of late, the lower house panel has become a ‘matter of discussion’ for its ineffectiveness, so much so that the committee has failed to even convene its meetings. The panel sat on Tuesday after a month. Most of its members airing their views on the day expressed concern over the committee’s failure to sit even as there are multiple issues affecting common people’s lives and concerning the expenditure from state coffers. Committee members said the body has been unable to carry out even its routine jobs such as preparing its annual report and presenting it to the House.