JPC to meet after May 13

Chairman of the Joint Parliamentary Committee on 2G scam P.C. Chacko on Monday demanded an immediate decision on whether the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) should investigate the scam or not.

Addressing journalists at the Press Club here, he said if the two committees submitted contradictory reports to Parliament, a difficult situation would arise, perhaps helping the accused.

“The [Lok Sabha] Speaker's decision is awaited after she recently met the heads of both committees. I do not know whether she has already issued directives to the PAC to limit its scope of inquiry,” Mr. Chacko said.

He said the JPC would meet after May 13, draw up a schedule, prepare a list of witnesses and try to submit its report by the end of the monsoon session of Parliament.

To a question, Mr. Chacko said the JPC would not hesitate to summon even the Prime Minister if the need arose.

“The JPC has no intention of formulating a report favourable to the government. Nor can be it done. The ratio of its members from the ruling and Opposition parties is equal. Moreover, the chairman cannot take a unilateral decision. The report will certainly be objective.”