Public Accounts Committee Law

1. Citation. This Law may be cited as the Public Accounts Committee Law.

2. Establishment of Public Accounts Committee. There shall be established a Committee by the name of the Public Accounts Committee which shall consist of five members appointed by the Governor one of whom shall in like manner be appointed as Chairman of the said Committee.

3. Tenure of office. (1) A member shall, subject to the pleasure of the Governor hold office for a period of two years but shall be eligible for re-appointment. [No. 28 of 1971.] (2) The seat of a member shall fall vacant upon the occurrence of any of the following events- (a) his death; (b) his resignation; (c) his inability, resulting from any cause, to discharge the functions of his office; (d) his conviction for a criminal offence involving fraud, dishonesty or moral turpitude; (e) his removal by the Governor for misbehaviour or for any other cause; (f) the dissolution of the Committee. (3) For the avoidance of doubt, "member" in this section includes the Chairman. (4) It is hereby declared that the tenure of offices of the present members of the Committee shall take effect from the date of commencement of this Law.

4. Functions of the Committee. The functions of the Committee shall be to examine- (a) the accounts showing the appropriation of the sums granted by the appropriate authorities to meet public expenditure of the State together with the Auditor’s report thereon; (b) the reports and accounts of any corporation established directly under a law of the State.

5. Powers of the Committee. (1) The Committee shall have power to take evidence and subject to subsection (2) of this section to do anything which in its opinion is calculated to facilitate the carrying out of its function. (2) Except with the general or special approval of the Governor the Committee shall not have power to incur any expenditure.

6. Procedure. (1) The Committee may make standing orders regulating its proceedings. (2) The quorum of the Committee shall be the Chairman and four others.

7. Remuneration of members of the Committee. The members of the Committee shall be paid such remuneration and allowances as the Governor may determine.