JPC exercised over PAC role in 2G probe

It will also place before the Speaker a question for her consideration whether those JPC members, who being ministers in successive governments between 1998 and 2008 were part of telecom policy decision, could be seen as having conflict of interest and, therefore, should not be allowed to be part of the panel.

These decisions were taken by the JPC at its first meeting here on Thursday. The committee is likely to meet the Lok Sabha Speaker on Friday. “According to parliamentary procedures and practice, the PAC is not concerned with the question of policy in the broad sense. To look into the broader question of policy and its implementation comes under our terms of reference,” JPC chairman P C Chacko told media persons here.

“Since they (PAC) are seized of the matter (2G spectrum allocation scam) and also going into the policy matters and part of it, it was a general feeling of the committee (JPC) that an inquiry into the same issue by two different committees of Parliament should be avoided. We will meet the Speaker on the issue as she has the power to take a decision,” he added.

Chacko, however, clarified that there was “no conflict between JPC and PAC as such”.  “We are not at all making any opinion on the functioning of  the PAC. We are not suggesting as to what PAC should do. Proprietary demands that simultaneous inquiry (by two different parliamentary committees) should be avoided,” he said.

Much before the JPC was set up, the PAC was seized of the 2G spectrum allocation case. “Probably they would not have taken up this issue, if the JPC had been set up earlier,” he maintained.

Earlier at a press conference Joshi, however, dismissed that there was an overlap in the mandates of the PAC.

Out of 30 members of the JPC, 27 were present in the meeting. “We are planning to have regular meeting from May 18th,” Chacko said.