PAC questions service chiefs on irregularities in canteen dept

Setting a precedent, Army Chief V K Singh, Air Chief Marshal P V Naik and Vice-Chief of the Naval Staff D K Deewan appeared before the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of Parliament on Wednesday in connection with CAG findings about alleged irregularities in the supply of dry rations to soldiers. The PAC, according to sources, made several suggestions to them and advised them to reorganise the system for improving the supply of dry rations to soldiers within six months.

The Army Chief, accompanied by senior officers, made a presentation on the management of rations in the Army. He appeared alone in the first session, but was accompanied by Air Chief Marshal Naik and Vice-Chief of Naval Staff after the lunch.

"We went into two issues — one, the supply of rations to the jawans, and two, canteen management," PAC chairman Murli Manohar Joshi told the media later. Joshi refused to divulge details about the "suggestions", but said he would speak "when we receive their proposals".

The Army Chief said soon after the meeting that the members' suggestions would be taken into account and a report on the issue would be presented to the committee within six months. He said: "We had a good meeting. The MPs made some good suggestions. We have taken them into account."

Joshi said it was not proper to say the service chiefs had been "summoned" or there was any "reluctance" on their part to appear before the PAC. He said they had been called because they were the ones who formulated rules and implemented them. The committee asked them to come and enlighten the members about the system.

The PAC had called the chiefs of the three services after a CAG report pointed out irregularities in the supply chain management of rations by Canteen Stores Department. The Defence Ministry, which had received the communication, had advised them to appear before the PAC. Normally, the Defence Secretary attends meetings of the Parliamentary Committees along with Vice Chiefs of the Services.

... contd.

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