Srinagar, Nov 04 (KNO): Jammu and Kashmir MLA Ranbir Singh Pathania on Tuesday called for technology-driven reforms, greater transparency and an appreciation-based approach to strengthen public financial oversight while addressing the All India Conference of Chairmen of Public Accounts Committees (PACs) of Parliament and State and Union Territory legislatures in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala.
In a statement issued to the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), a spokesperson said Pathania, while representing Jammu and Kashmir at the national-level conference, advocated expanding the traditional framework of Accounts, Audit and Accountability by adding two more dimensions, Appreciation and Artificial Intelligence (AI) to make legislative oversight more constructive, efficient and technology-driven.
“Accountability is the soul of good governance, and transparency is its conscience,” Pathania said, stressing that financial oversight should not be confined to identifying irregularities but should also recognise officials who demonstrate financial discipline, adhere to timelines and ensure effective delivery of public services.
He said administrative scrutiny must be balanced with encouragement and formal appreciation of good performance to prevent excessive fear of reprimand from creating administrative delays.
Highlighting the growing role of technology in governance, Pathania called for integrating Artificial Intelligence and data analytics into public accounts management, saying automated systems could help detect duplicate entries, identify procurement anomalies and monitor public expenditure in real time.
He said Integrated Financial Management Systems (IFMS), AI and digital automation could strengthen internal controls and improve transparency, while technology should complement ethical standards and legislative vigilance.
During his address, Pathania also proposed a roadmap to improve legislative oversight and public financial management.
His proposals included establishing a national digital portal to track the implementation of PAC recommendations across States and Union Territories, institutionalising formal appreciation of exemplary administrative practices, and adopting AI-driven auditing and financial management systems.
He also called for constituting mandatory departmental standing audit committees, headed by Administrative Secretaries, to address audit observations at the departmental level and clear pending backlogs.
Pathania further advocated documenting and recognising effective service-delivery models and prudent financial management practices so that successful administrative initiatives could be replicated elsewhere.
His address was delivered in the presence of Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, Parliamentary Public Accounts Committee Chairman K. C. Venugopal, Chief Minister of Kerala, Mr Satheesan, and legislative speakers and PAC chairpersons from across the country, according to the statement.
Pathania also invoked former British Prime Minister Winston Churchill's words on perseverance, emphasising the need for courage, constructive reforms and sustained efforts in strengthening democratic institutions—(KNO)