K V Thomas meets Bhutan PAC delegation

Chairman of the newly-constituted Public Accounts Committee K V Thomas today met a delegation of PAC of Bhutan and appreciated that the Parliament's watchdog in that country enjoys a Constitutional status unlike in India.
Meeting the five-members delegation of Public Accounts Committee of Bhutan National Assembly/Council led by Chairperson of the Bhutanese PAC, Pema Dakpa, Thomas also appreciated the dominance of opposition members in the PAC of Bhutan National Assembly and National Council.
The last PAC, which was also headed by Thomas here had made a strong recommendation to empower the Parliament's watchdog.
A sub-committee, set up to strengthen the PAC with BJP MP Nishikant Dubey as its convenor had suggested that the PAC, considered the mother of parliamentary committees, should not only be examining CAG reports but "also select issues suo motu".

A press statement from Lok Sabha said that another interesting fact of PAC of Bhutan is the holding of hearings in public.
"The Chairperson also lauded the system of appointment of the Royal Audit Authority in Bhutan, where the King or Druk Gyalpo appoints from a list of eminent persons recommended jointly by Prime Minister, Chief Justice of Bhutan, Speaker, Chairperson of National Council and Leader of opposition," the statement said.
The visiting delegation deeply appreciated the comparative analysis of the two PACs and the interaction saw good practices from both sides being shared. The delegation evinced keen interest in the working of the PAC of Indian Parliament.