The Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) probing irregularities in the allocation of telecom licences and 2G spectrum has decided to seek a “status report” on the investigations being carried out by several government agencies.
The agencies include the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), the Enforcement Directorate, the Income Tax Wing and several other wings of the Finance Ministry.
At its 19{+t}{+h} session here on Tuesday, the Committee, which is mandated to look into the telecom policy from 1998 to 2009, took evidence from Shamal Ghosh, who was the Secretary, Department of Telecom, from February to May 2002.
Asked if the agencies would be required to submit the status report on a periodical basis, JPC chairman P.C. Chacko said the committee would summon officials of the agencies concerned for a briefing “as and when necessary.”
The Supreme Court is monitoring the work of the CBI, the main probing agency, which submits periodical updates on its progress in the investigations.
Mr. Chacko said the JPC members were of the view that updates from the probe agencies would be useful in facilitating the functioning of the JPC. The move assumes importance in view of the growing perception of there being duplication of work among the agencies and the Parliamentary Committees inquiring into the telecom policies.
The Public Accounts Committee (PAC), under the chairmanship of senior BJP leader Murli Manohar Joshi, examined in depth the Comptroller and Auditor-General report on the irregularities in implementation of the telecom policy. Dr. Joshi had prepared a draft report on the outcome of the PAC sittings. However, the report was not acceptable to members of the ruling combine; they dubbed it as being partisan and politically motivated.
Dr. Joshi submitted the draft report to Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar despite vehement objections from the UPA members. The Speaker has since returned the report. Dr. Joshi has decided to seek the views of the newly constituted PAC on the draft report.
‘Untabled report'
The JPC has not taken cognisance of the PAC's draft report. Mr. Chacko said the committee could not be expected to factor in a report which was not placed in Parliament.
