Mumbai: Almost three months after the new Mahayuti govt was formed, no political party has given names for filling up legislative committees. So far, none of the over two dozen legislative committees have been formed. The legislature secretariat has now written to all legislature party leaders, asking them to submit names for key committees. There are over two dozen legislative committees, including the all-important Public Accounts Committee (PAC). Under the previous Mahayuti govt, there was no PAC in the state for 2.5 years. Senior officials said this was the first time in many years that Maharashtra was without the all-important PAC. All other committees, like the privileges committee, estimates committee, committee on public enterprises, panchayati raj committee, scheduled caste welfare committee, and employment guarantee scheme committee, among others, have not been formed since the formation of the new govt in Dece 2024.
The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG), in its special audit report on the BMC in 2023, flayed the civic body for awarding contracts worth crores without tenders or agreements, in violation of vigilance and procurement norms during the Covid-19 pandemic. However, as there was no PAC, no departmental action could be taken. As per legislative procedure, the CAG’s report was to be sent to the PAC, which can recommend further action. However, the state didn’t have a PAC in place. The PAC is headed by a leader from the opposition parties. This is a major setback for transparency and a check on corruption, said the opposition. Assembly Speaker Rahul Narwekar said PAC was not formed due to the defection of MLAs from treasury to opposition benches in the last 2.5 years and delay from the opposition in giving names for PAC.
The PAC is considered to be a powerful committee of the state legislature since it is a joint committee of members of the Legislative Assembly and Legislative Council. The state’s previous PAC was headed by the BJP’s Sudhir Munganthiwar since the BJP was the principal opposition party until June 2022.
The CAG report said BMC lacked transparency, granted favours to contractors, and its decisions caused financial losses and massive cost escalations. Later, the Mumbai Police’s Economic Offences Wing (EOW) filed FIRs, and the Enforcement Directorate (ED) too investigated alleged scams of the Covid period, but no departmental action was taken on BMC and state govt officials. PAC scrutinises if the funds were disbursed legally on the service or purpose for which they were meant and if the expenditure was authorised. PAC also examines the statement from agencies or departments audited, like the BMC, and then recommends action.
