WHY PARLIAMENTARY
COMMITTEES ?
The work done by the Parliament
in modern times is not only varied in nature, but considerable in volume. The
time at its disposal is limited. It cannot, therefore, give close
consideration to all the legislative and other matters that come up before it.
A good deal of its business is, therefore, transacted by what are called the
Parliamentary Committees.
When a Bill
comes up before a House for general discussion,it is open to that House to
refer it to a Select Committee of the House or a Joint Committee of the two
Houses. A motion has to be moved and adopted to this effect in the House in
which the Bill comes up for consideration.
Broadly, Parliamentary
Committees are of two kinds - Standing Committees and ad hoc Committees. The
former are elected or appointed every year or periodically and their work goes
on, more or less, on a continuous basis. The latter are appointed on an ad hoc
basis as need arises and they cease to exist as soon as they complete the task
assigned to them.
Standing Committees:
Among the Standing
Committees,the three Financial Committees –
1. Committees on Estimates,
2. Public Accounts
3. Public Undertaking
- They constitute a distinct group as they
keep an unremitting vigil over Government expenditure and performance.
While members of the Rajya
Sabha are associated with
Committees on Public Accounts and Public Undertakings, the members of the Committee on Estimates are drawn entirely
from the Lok Sabha.
The Estimates Committee reports
on 'what economies, improvements in organisation, efficiency or administrative
reform consistent with policy underlying the estimates' may be effected. It
also examines whether the money is well laid out within limits of the policy
implied in the estimates and suggests the form in which estimates shall be
presented to Parliament.
The Public Accounts Committee scrutinises appropriation
and finance accounts of Government and reports of the Comptroller and
Auditor-General. It ensures that public money is spent in accordance with
Parliament's decision and calls attention to cases of waste, extravagance, loss
or nugatory expenditure.
The Committee on Public Undertakings examines reports of the
Comptroller and Auditor-General, if any. It also examines whether public
undertakings are being run efficiently and managed in accordance with sound
business principles and prudent commercial practices.
Other than these we have
about 24 standing committees to the date…!
Understanding the Standing Committee !
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When was this concept of Standing
Committee actually came up in Indian Parliament ?
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Rules
Committee of the Lok Sabha recommended setting-up
of 17 Department Related Standing Committees (DRSCs). Accordingly, 17
Department Related Standing Committees were set up on 8 April 1993.
In July 2004, rules were amended to provide for the constitution
of seven more such committees, thus raising the number of DRSCs from 17 to
24.
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Main objective of a standing
committee ?
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To secure more accountablility of the executive of the Parliament
,particular financial accountability.
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How many members are their in Standing
Committee ? How are they elected ?
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Each standing committee consists of 31 members …consisting of 21
LokSabha Members and 10 Rajya Sabha Members. Members frm LS are elected by
the LS Speaker and members frm the RS are elected by the RS Chairman.
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Is a minister eligible to be a
part of Standing Committee ?
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No…a
member if in future appointed a minister; his membership in d committee
ceases .
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Term of Office of a Standing
Committee ?
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One year from the date of Constitution
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What are the limitations imposed
on a Standing Committee ?
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They shud nt consider the
matters of day to day affairs of the concerned department/ministries.
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They shud nt generally consider
the matters which are considered by the other parliamentary committee.
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What are the merits of a standing
committee ?
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No party bias
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Procedure more flexible
than LS
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Parliamentary control
over the executive more effectively
· Ensures economy and efficiency in public expenditure.
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Recommendations of a standing
committee are advisory and not binding on the Parliament ....true or false ?
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True
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What are the functions of a
Standing Committee ?
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The functions of these Committees are:
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to consider the Demands
for Grants of various Ministries/Departments of Government of India and make
reports to the Houses;
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to examine such Bills as
are referred to the Committee by the Chairman, Rajya Sabha or the Speaker,
Lok Sabha, as the case may be, and make reports thereon;
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to consider Annual
Reports of ministries/departments and make reports thereon; and to consider
policy documents presented to the Houses, if referred to the Committee by the
Chairman, Rajya Sabha or the Speaker, Lok Sabha, as the case may be, and make
reports thereon.
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Other
Standing Committees in each House, divided in terms of their functions, are
i.
Committees to Inquire:
a.
Committee on Petitions
examines petitions on bills and on matters of general public interest and also
entertains representations on matters concerning subjects in the Union List;
and
- Committee
of Privileges examines any question of privilege referred to it by the
House or Speaker/Chairman;
ii.
Committees to Scrutinise:
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Committee on Government
Assurances keeps track of all the assurances, promises, undertakings, etc.,
given by Ministers in the House and pursues them till they are implemented;
a.
Committee on Subordinate
Legislation scrutinises and reports to the House whether the power to make
regulations, rules, sub-rules, bye-laws, etc., conferred by the Constitution or
Statutes is being properly exercised by the delegated authorities; and
b.
Committee on Papers Laid on
the Table examines all papers laid on the table of the House by Ministers,
other than statutory notifications and orders which come within the purview of
the Committee on Subordinate Legislation, to see whether there has been compliance
with the provisions of the Constitution, Act, rule or regulation under which
the paper has been laid;
iii.
Committees relating to the
day-today business of the House:
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Business Advisory Committee
recommends allocation of time for items of Government and other business to be
brought before the Houses;
a.
Committee on Private
Members’ Bills and Resolutions of the Lok Sabha classifies and allocates time
to Bills introduced by private members, recommends allocation of time for
discussion on private members’ resolutions and examines Constitution amendment
bills before their introduction by private members in the Lok Sabha. The Rajya
Sabha does not have such a committee. It is the Business Advisory Committee of
that House which recommends allocation of time for discussion on stage or
stages of private members’ bills and resolutions;
b.
Rules Committee considers
matters of procedure and conduct of business in the House and recommends amendments
or additions to the Rules; and
c.
Committee on Absence of
Members from the Sittings of the House of the Lok Sabha considers all
applications from members for leave or absence from sittings of the House.
There is no such Committee in the Rajya Sabha. Applications from members for
leave or absence are considered by the House itself;
iv.
Committee on the Welfare of
Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, on
which members from both Houses serve, considers all matters relating to the
welfare of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes which come within the purview
of the Union Government and keeps a watch whether constitutional safeguards in
respect of these classes are properly implemented;
v.
Committees concerned with
the provision of facilities to members:
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General Purposes Committee
considers and advises Speaker/Chairman on matters concerning affairs of the
House, which do not appropriately fall within the purview of any other
Parliamentary Committee; and
- House
Committee deals with residential accommodation and other amenities for
members;
vi.
Joint Committee on Salaries and Allowances of Members of
Parliament, constituted under the Salary, Allowances and Pension of Members of
Parliament Act, 1954, apart from framing rules for regulating payment of
salary, allowances and pension to Members of Parliament, also frames rules in
respect of amenities like medical, housing, telephone, postal, constituency and
secretarial facility;
- Joint Committee
on Offices of Profit examines the
composition and character of committees and other bodies appointed by the
Central and State governments and Union Territories Administrations and
recommends what offices ought to or ought not to disqualify a person from
being chosen as a member of either House of Parliament;
- The Library
Committee consisting of
members from both Houses, considers matters concerning the Library of
Parliament;
- On 29 April
1997, a Committee
on Empowerment of Women with
members from both the Houses was constituted with a view to securing,
among other things, status, dignity and equality for women in all fields;
x.
On 4 March 1997, the Ethics Committee of the
Rajya Sabha was constituted. The Ethics Committee of the Lok Sabha was
constituted on 16 May 2000.
Current Chairman Names !
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Department Related Parliamentary Standing Committees (RS) |
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Department Related Parliamentary Standing Committees (LS) |
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Joint Committees |
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Adhoc
Committees
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·
the parliamentary standing
committee on personnel and public grievances had a played a major
role in bringing about reforms in UPSC !
