PARLIAMENTARY COMMITTEES
1. Context
A revamp of the Standing Committees of Parliament could potentially worsen the relations between the government and opposition parties. Of the 22 committees announced , the Congress has the post of chairperson in only one, and the second largest opposition party, Trinamool Congress, none
2. What are the Committees of Parliament?
- The legislative process commences with the introduction of a Bill in either house of Parliament. However, this process can be intricate, and due to the limited time available for in-depth discussions, it often becomes challenging.
- Furthermore, the growing political polarization and the narrowing of the political center have led to increasingly heated and inconclusive debates within Parliament.
- Consequently, a substantial portion of legislative matters is effectively addressed within the framework of Parliamentary Committees.
- A Parliamentary Committee is a group of Members of Parliament (MPs) appointed or elected by the House, or nominated by the Speaker.
- These committees operate under the Speaker's guidance and subsequently present their findings and recommendations either to the House or directly to the Speaker.
- The roots of the Parliamentary Committee system can be traced back to the British Parliament. Their legitimacy is derived from Article 105, which outlines the privileges of MPs, and Article 118, which empowers Parliament to establish regulations governing its processes and business conduct.
3. What are the various Committees of Parliament?
- Parliamentary Committees can be categorized into distinct groups, including Financial Committees, Departmentally Related Standing Committees, Other Parliamentary Standing Committees, and Ad hoc Committees. These classifications serve specific purposes within the legislative process.
- The Financial Committees, namely the Estimates Committee, Public Accounts Committee, and the Committee on Public Undertakings, were originally established in 1950. They were designed to enhance financial oversight and accountability within Parliament.
- In 1993, the formation of seventeen Departmentally Related Standing Committees was undertaken to bolster the scrutiny of parliamentary activities.
- The primary objectives were to provide members with more extensive involvement in the examination of significant legislation and to expand the scope of parliamentary review. Subsequently, the number of these committees was raised to 24, each consisting of 31 members, with 21 being from the Lok Sabha and 10 from the Rajya Sabha.
- Ad hoc Committees, on the other hand, are constituted for specific, time-bound purposes. Once these committees have fulfilled their designated tasks and presented their findings to the House, they are dissolved.
- Notable examples include Select and Joint Committees on Bills, as well as committees like the Railway Convention Committee and the Committee on Food Management and Security in Parliament House Complex, which fall within the Ad hoc Committee category.
- Additionally, Parliament has the authority to establish a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) with a particular focus, featuring members from both Houses.
- These committees are responsible for in-depth examinations of specific subjects or Bills. Alternatively, any of the two Houses can establish a Select Committee comprising members from that respective House.
- Typically, these JPCs and Select Committees are chaired by Members of Parliament from the ruling party and are disbanded upon the submission of their reports.
4. How are the Committees constituted?
- There are a total of 16 Departmentally Related Standing Committees for the Lok Sabha and eight for the Rajya Sabha, with each Committee comprising members from both Houses. The leadership of these committees is typically drawn from the respective House they belong to.
- Notable Lok Sabha committees include those covering areas like Agriculture, Coal, Defence, External Affairs, Finance, Communications and Information Technology, Labour, Petroleum & Natural Gas, and Railways.
- Similarly, prominent Rajya Sabha committees encompass Commerce, Education, Health & Family Welfare, Home Affairs, and Environment.
- Each House also has other Standing Committees, including the Business Advisory Committee and the Privileges Committee, whose members are nominated by the Presiding Officer of the respective House. Ministers are generally not eligible for election or appointment to Financial Committees and specific Departmentally Related Committees.
- The decision to refer a matter to a Parliamentary Committee lies with the Presiding Officers, although this choice is commonly made in consultation with party leaders within the House.
- The appointment of committee heads follows a similar process, with the convention typically being that the main Opposition party's nominee assumes the role of the PAC (Public Accounts Committee) chairman. However, recent restructuring has seen a shift from this pattern.
- The committee heads are responsible for scheduling meetings, setting the agenda, and preparing the annual report.
- They can make decisions aimed at efficiently managing the committee. During meetings, the chairperson presides and can determine which individuals should be summoned before the panel.
- An invitation to appear before a Parliamentary Committee carries the same weight as a court summons. If someone is unable to attend, they must provide reasons, which the committee may or may not accept.
- However, the chairman usually requires the support of the majority of members to summon a witness.
- Members of Parliament typically serve on Parliamentary Committees for a one-year term, and the composition of these committees generally remains consistent in terms of party representation.
5. How important are the recommendations of the Committees?
- The reports produced by Departmentally Related Standing Committees are advisory in character.
- While they are not legally binding on the government, they do hold substantial influence. Historically, governments have often embraced the recommendations provided by these committees and integrated them into the legislation after it returns to the House for deliberation and approval.
- Additionally, these committees analyze policy matters within their respective Ministries and offer suggestions to the government.
- The government is obligated to provide feedback regarding its acceptance of these recommendations.
- As a result, the Committees present Action Taken Reports, which outline the government's progress in implementing each recommendation.
6.Way forward
Parliamentary committees in India provide a crucial mechanism for the legislative branch to scrutinize the executive branch (the government), hold it accountable, and conduct in-depth examinations of various aspects of governance and policy. They play a vital role in ensuring transparency, accountability, and effective governance in a democratic system
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For Prelims: Standing Committees, Ethics Committees, Adhoc Committees
For Mains: Parliamentary Committees of Indian Parliament
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Previous Year Questions
1. Consider the following statements: The Parliamentary Committee on Public Accounts (UPSC CSE 2013)
1. consists of not more than 25 members of the Lok Sabha.
2. scrutinizes appropriation and finance accounts of the Government.
3. examines the report of the Comptroller and Auditor General of India.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
A. 1 Only
B. 2 and 3 Only
C. 3 only
D. 1, 2 and 3
Answer (B)
2.With reference to the Parliament of India, which of the following Parliamentary Committees scrutinizes and reports to the House whether the powers to make regulations, rules, sub-rules, by-laws, etc. conferred by the Constitution or delegated by the Parliament are being properly exercised by the Executive within the scope of such delegation ? (UPSC CSE, 2018)
(a) Committee on Government Assurances (b) Committee on Subordinate Legislation (c) Rules Committee (d) Business Advisory Committee Answer (b)
3.Which one of the following is the largest Committee of the Parliament? (UPSC CSE, 2014)
(a) The Committee on Public Accounts (b) The Committee on Estimates (c) The Committee on Public Undertakings (d) The Committee on Petitions Answer (b)
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Source: Indianexpress
