NEW DELHI, Nov 4: Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on Wednesday called for a common digital audit monitoring platform for State legislatures, on the lines of the system available to parliamentary committees, to ensure systematic tracking of audit observations and timely disposal of audit reports.
Addressing the valedictory session of the two-day Conference of Chairpersons of Public Accounts Committees (PACs) of Parliament and State and Union Territory legislatures in Thiruvananthapuram, Birla proposed greater technological integration in the functioning of legislative committees to strengthen financial oversight and accountability.
He said a common digital platform would facilitate monitoring of audit observations, strengthen follow-up mechanisms and ensure the timely examination and disposal of audit reports.
Birla also called for Parliament and State legislatures to jointly develop a comprehensive system of audit and evaluation to address common challenges relating to scrutiny and disposal of audit reports.
Emphasising the role of Public Accounts Committees in ensuring accountability in public expenditure, he said audit observations must not remain confined to reports and records but should translate into corrective measures and improvements in administrative functioning.
While the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) conducts independent audits, PACs have the crucial responsibility of examining audit findings, undertaking factual scrutiny and ensuring follow-up on their recommendations, he said.
Birla stressed that the executive must accord due importance to PAC recommendations and ensure their timely implementation.
He also said legislative oversight should go beyond examining expenditure to assess whether public funds were delivering the intended benefits and bringing measurable improvements to people’s lives.
Referring to expenditure on education, healthcare, infrastructure, social welfare and rural development, he said every rupee of public money must be properly accounted for and utilised for the purpose for which it was allocated.
Chairperson of the Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee K.C. Venugopal, meanwhile, flagged delays, incomplete responses and the absence of replies from ministries and government departments to audit observations.
He stressed the need for timely audits of government schemes and prompt tabling of audit reports before legislatures, calling upon the executive to furnish complete responses without delay.
Venugopal also suggested that at least one PAC report be discussed in Parliament and every State legislature to make the committee’s work more accessible to the public and strengthen accountability.
He called for better coordination between the Centre and States in scrutinising Centrally Sponsored Schemes and proposed at least one annual meeting between Union and State PACs dedicated to these schemes.
Underscoring the importance of technology, he also advocated a dashboard to track audit paragraphs and action taken on them, besides specialised staff, training and capacity building for committee members and officials.
Birla said the adoption of digital innovations could improve the efficiency, transparency and effectiveness of legislative oversight, while cautioning that technology must remain anchored in human judgment and institutional values.
He also called for regular meetings and exchanges of experiences among PACs to enable States to share successful practices and technological solutions. Representatives from 27 States participated in the conference.
The two-day conference deliberated on the theme “Audit, Accountability, and Good Governance – The Evolving Role of the PAC”, with a focus on strengthening financial oversight, improving audit follow-up mechanisms and enhancing the institutional effectiveness of Public Accounts Committees.
The Keralam Resolution adopted at the conference is expected to serve as a roadmap for strengthening the functioning of PACs and improving accountability in public expenditure.
