Delhi Speaker Vijender Gupta met with the Meghalaya Legislative Assembly’s Public Accounts Committee (PAC) members, fostering inter-legislative exchange and accountability. The meeting emphasized the role of PAC and CAG in ensuring government transparency. Meghalaya PAC shared insights on fiscal oversight and democratic practices during the Delhi visit.
In a inter-legislative engagement, Delhi Legislative Assembly Speaker Vijender Gupta met with members of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of the Meghalaya Legislative Assembly at the Vidhan Sabha premises on Monday. The meeting marked a continuation of Meghalaya PAC’s ongoing study tour across Indian states to explore best practices and strengthen legislative accountability mechanisms.
During the interaction, Speaker Vijender Gupta welcomed the delegation warmly and applauded their initiative to promote inter-state cooperation in matters of fiscal oversight. He emphasized the critical role that PACs and the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) play in maintaining governmental accountability.
“PAC and CAG are awakening alarms for the government to act and ensure accountability,” said Speaker Gupta while addressing the visiting members. His remarks underlined the watchdog function of these institutions in a functioning democracy.
The delegation from Meghalaya comprised prominent legislators including Charles Pyngrope, Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee and former Speaker of the Meghalaya Legislative Assembly. Other members included Lahkmen Rymbui, Gavin Miguel Mylliem, Rupert Momin, Rupa M. Marak, Sengchim N. Sangma, Jimmy D. Sangma, Ian Botham K. Sangma, and Balajied Kupar Synrem—all Members of the Legislative Assembly.
From the Delhi side, Deputy Speaker Mohan Singh Bisht and Delhi PAC Chairperson Ajay Mahawar were present, adding significance to the occasion. The event served as a platform to exchange ideas on legislative efficiency, fiscal scrutiny, and the evolving role of PACs in a federal democracy.
Speaker Gupta inquired about Meghalaya’s legislative practices, demographics, and the composition of its PAC. Charles Pyngrope elaborated on the unique socio-political structure of Meghalaya, a matrilineal state primarily inhabited by the Khasi, Jaintia, and Garo tribes. He explained that the state’s governance includes provisions of the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution, empowering Autonomous District Councils to protect indigenous tribal rights.
Pyngrope further shared that Meghalaya’s PAC consists of ten members, including the Chairperson, and adheres to the convention of having the Chairperson from the opposition. This, he noted, is vital in ensuring impartial and effective scrutiny of government expenditures.
Speaker Gupta, in turn, briefed the delegation about the Audit Para Monitoring System being used in the Delhi Legislative Assembly. He said this digital monitoring tool helps track audit observations made by the CAG and facilitates timely responses and actions by government departments. According to Gupta, such systems are essential in promoting financial discipline and transparency in governance.
The visiting members also expressed interest in adopting digital systems to enhance their own audit and monitoring processes. They discussed ways to improve the performance of legislative committees and stressed the need for continuous training and capacity building for legislators involved in public financial management.
Chairman Charles Pyngrope appreciated the opportunity to learn about Delhi Assembly’s initiatives and affirmed Meghalaya’s commitment to strengthening legislative institutions. “Such exchanges help us gain new perspectives, which we can adapt to our own context to make our legislative oversight more effective,” he said.
Deputy Speaker Mohan Singh Bisht echoed the importance of such engagements in enriching the democratic framework of the country. “It is encouraging to see states coming together to share knowledge and experiences. These efforts will ultimately lead to more accountable and transparent governance,” he added.
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The meeting concluded with both delegations expressing their intent to keep lines of communication open and pursue further collaborative exchanges in the future.
The interaction between the two legislative bodies serves as a reminder of the importance of cooperative federalism, where states learn from each other’s innovations to strengthen the democratic process.
