Chandigarh, September 12
The legislature and the bureaucracy in Punjab have locked horns over the assertion of powers in controlling the functioning of the state. The all-powerful Public Accounts Committee (PAC), comprising representatives of all political parties in the Punjab Vidhan Sabha, is angered over the pace of functioning of the executive. It has pointed out that no action is being taken for years against hundreds of employees involved in financial bungling of government funds.

Sources say the government departments are not providing information about the cases to the PAC within the stipulated period of six months, thereby delaying action. Some of the erring employees have retired and a few have even died. All cases relate to the misuse of money totalling crores of rupees.

The PAC has 13 members and is considered the most important committee of the Vidhan Sabha and is empowered to deal with the cases of financial bungling in government offices.

Two weeks ago, Chairman of the PAC Manpreet Singh Badal, MLA from Gidderbaha, in a missive to Chief Secretary K.R. Lakhanpal has pointed out that apart from delaying matters for more than 10-15 years “departments while submitting replies to the PAC have resorted to half truths and have made frivolous submissions, apparently with malafide intention”.

Mr Badal has also said the executive is yet to understand, accept and appreciate the government’s accountability to the legislature as mandated by the Indian Constitution. The PAC, meanwhile, has recommended that a high-powered committee be formed to study the accountability of the executive laid down in states like Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra among others. The government has reportedly asked the PAC to put up the matter through the Speaker, Dr Kewal Krishan.

The sources say the reality can be gauged from the fact that hundreds of cases in the departments of agriculture, revenue, health, education, home, transport and irrigation are pending for the want of information from the respective departments.

The route adopted to escape punishment is to delay matters and not let the case come up before the PAC till it is time barred on account of retirement of the employee, the sources say. Service rules do not permit any action against an employee four year after his or her retirement.