No clash of interests with JPC: Chacko

Noting that there was no "clash of interests" with the PAC in probing the 2G spectrum allocation, JPC Chairman PC Chacko today said parallel probe by two parliamentary committees was "avoidable".

He also said the names of "seven to eight" former Union Ministers, including members of Group of Ministers (GoM) who were part of decision-making in telecom sector between 1998-2008 would be referred to Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar to decide whether their presence in the JPC constituted a clash of interests.

He said that as per rules, only the Speaker can take a decision on the issue and not the JPC.

Addressing reporters after the first meeting of the JPC, constituted to look into the 2G spectrum issue, Chacko said members of the committee were "unanimous" that parallel probe by two committees of Parliament inquiring into the same issue was "not good...Avoidable...The final reports (of the two committees) could be same and could also differ."

To a question, he said members of the JPC, who are also part of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC), shared similar views.

"I would meet the Speaker to discuss the matter (of parallel probes)," he said.

Asked whether he would also meet PAC chief Murli Manohar Joshi, he said he would request the Speaker to call Joshi to discuss the issue.

Referring to a book by MN Kaul and SL Shakder 'Practice and Procedure of Parliament', Chacko said PAC is not concerned with questions of policy but can only look into "extravagance in implementation of the policy."

He said the JPC has been constituted to look into the issue of policy (in telecom sector) as per the terms of reference.

"There is no clash of interest, but parliamentary propriety is that the PAC should not...."