PAC calls service chiefs, they depute vice-chiefs

Parliament's Public Accounts Committee ( PAC) summoned the Army, Navy and Air Force chiefs to appear " in person" before it on January 12, for not responding to its notice on " gross irregularities" in purchase of rations, but they have decided to depute their vice chiefs to appear before it.

They took the collective decision after getting the PAC notice through the Defence Ministry. Never ever before the Service chiefs have been summoned to appear before it and hence they decided to follow the practice of sending the vice chiefs to attend such parliamentary committee meetings.

It will be interesting to see how the PAC reacts to the Service Chiefs passing the buck despite served notices to appear in person.

The ministry sources said the vice chiefs will appear along with the quartermaster generals and the director of the Canteen Stores Department (CSD), which has been criticised by the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) for its irregularities across the nation in supply of rations to the soldiers and not providing relevant papers for audit of the ration supply chain.

The CSD did not provide the papers even to the Defence Secretary when the CAG sought information through him.

" This attitude has forced the PAC to summon the three Service chiefs," said sources in PAC headed by BJP veteran Murli Manohar Joshi. The PAC is examining the CAG report tabled in Parliament in August 2009 blasting the Armed Forces for " blatant violation of procedures" in procurement of ration for the Armed Force personnel.