DIMAPUR, OCTOBER 12 (MExN): The Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of the Nagaland Legislative Assembly (NLA) L. Temjen Jamir has given a clean chit in relation to the alleged scam of Rs 18 crore in the Police Department. The PAC Chairman informed in a press note that there was “absolutely no fraudulent drawals as reported”. He pointed out that “materials, equipments and vehicles, purchased were all verified and the balance amount unspent is very much in the DGP office account”.
“In fact, in this particular case there was no dissenting voice/note in the PAC report. The NPCC’s attitude of questioning the PAC exposes their lack of knowledge of parliamentary democracy”. Moreover, the PAC Chairman explained that if the Congress has any doubt on the integrity of the PAC, they will do well to ask their own honorable Members, who are members of the PAC.
Pointing out that the PAC was an institution in parliamentary democracy that functions as per guidelines and procedures, the press note stated that “questioning its integrity is uncalled for, as the committee consists of members from both opposition and treasury”.
“..It is my request that the matter be left there as the department will be informing the Assembly of the latest positions, if they have received the Proforma Invoice for arms & ammunitions, for which the department is to immediately make the payments as, if the payments are not done immediately, the Ordinance Factory may cancel and give it to other states which will be the State’s lost only”, the press note from the Chairman stated.
Stating that “much has been written too often about the Rs. 18.00 cr of the Police Department”, the press note stated as the present PAC Chairman and also a former member, he was setting things “rights and clarifying the same once and for all”.
Also it was pointed out that it was “purely a matter of coincidence that during the tenure of the former Chairman the C & AG report was tabled, and true to the responsibilities of the PAC the same was taken up”. “Inspections were done, registers were verified, vehicles and other materials purchased were checked and inspected by the Committee”.
It was also informed that the money spent was in order and the balance amounting to Rs. 1,64,88,000/- was duly accounted for in the accounts of the DGP office. It was pointed out that for purchase of arms and ammunitions, unless Proforma Invoice is received from the Ordinance Factory, the department cannot make any payment for which the office of the DGP is awaiting further Proforma Invoice.
The PAC Chairman stated that further allegations may only invite more problems, “because in a Committee every member has every right to question any department and satisfy himself, and it is not only the Chairman who questions”. Therefore, the press note stated that “the matter may kindly be put to rest once and for all”.
The PAC press release also clarified that the Public Accounts Committee was not formed after the C & AG report was tabled; but much before the tabling of the C & AG report. “Once the report was tabled; it became the bounden duty of the PAC to go through the report and summon the department concerned to give oral evidences after framing of all the necessary questions and queries by both the Assembly Secretariat and the Accountant General of the state”.
Further it stated that in this particular case of the police department, the then Chairman of the PAC was appointed much before the tabling of the C & AG report. The PAC Chairman also made it very clear that the senior Congress members, K L Chishi, Joshua Sumi and K V Pusa, are all members of the Public Accounts Committee, and they have actively participated in the proceedings of the PAC and the spot verifications of the materials purchased and the office records etc.
Also it was clarified that under the former PAC Chairman, an on-the-spot inspection/tour was also introduced and thus a lot of inspections/tours were undertaken which was never done before in the past Assembly committee.
It also stated that the PAC under the dynamic leadership of the former Chairman had taken up C & AG reports, right from the period of 1994-95 upto 2009-2010, and therefore could even clear 10 years of the backlog, including those of the Congress regime.
The present Chairman also informed that the earlier Public Accounts Committee consists of the following members. Dr. Neikiesalie Nicky Kire: Chairman; C L John: Member; Nuklutoshi: Member; L Temjen Jamir: Member; K L Chishi: Member; Joshua Sumi: Member and K V Pusa: Member.
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