• COMMITTEE SYSTEM – 1

UNIT 9 – THE PARLIAMENT – PART 7

COMMITTEE SYSTEM

The parliamentary committees are constituted for aiding the Parliament in carrying out its enormous functions effectively. The committees provide a platform for accessing the much needed technical and professional support from the field experts. A parliamentary committee is one that satisfies the following conditions

  1. It works under the direction of the Speaker of LS or the Chairman of RS.
  2. It submits its reports either to the house or to the Speaker or the Chairman.
  3. It gets secretariat assistance from the LS or the RS.

The Parliamentary committees are broadly classified into two types. They are

  1. Standing Committees
  2. Ad Hoc Committees

STANDING COMMITTEES:

These are permanent and regular committees constituted every year to carry out the wide range of businesses of the Parliament. Based on the nature of functions, these committees are classified into six categories. They are

S.No

Committee

Functions

1

Financial Committees

a

Public Accounts Committee

The committee examines the audit reports of Comptroller and Auditor General of India(CAG). It gets assistance from the CAG. The Chairman is appointed by the Speaker from the opposition party. A minister cannot be a member of this committee. Members are drawn from both the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha.

b

Estimates Committee

The committee examines the budget estimates and suggests ways to improve the management of resources and alternative policies to the government. A minister cannot be its member. The Chairman is appointed by the Speaker from the ruling party. The members are drawn only from the Lok Sabha.

c

Committee on Public Undertakings

The committee examines the audit reports of CAG on the Public Undertakings. The Chairman is appointed by the Speaker from amongst the members of LS. A minister cannot be its member. The members are drawn from both the LS and the RS.

2

Departmental Standing Committees

There are 24 departmental standing committees that cover all the ministries and respective departments of the Union government. A minister cannot become its member. Their primary functions include examining the demands for grants, annual reports and bills of respective departments.

3

Committees to Inquire

a

Committee on Petitions

It examines the petitions on bills and other matters of public importance. The LS and the RS have separate committees for the purpose.

b

Committee on Privileges

It examines the matters of breach of privileges by the members of the houses. The LS and the RS have separate committees for the purpose.

c

Ethics Committee

It maintains the decorum and decency within the houses by enforcing the code of conduct on the members. The LS and the RS have separate committees for the purpose.

4

Committees to Scrutinise and Control

a

Committee on Papers Laid on the Table

It examines all the papers laid on the table of the houses by the ministers to check for their complicity with the provisions of the constitution, acts and rules. The LS and the RS have separate committees for the purpose.

b

Committee on Subordinate Legislation

It examines whether the legislative powers delegated by the parliament to the executive are exercised properly. Separate committees are constituted in both the houses.

c

Committee on Welfare of SCs and STs

It examines the reports of the National Commission for SCs and the National commission for STs. It also examines the matters related to the welfare of SCs and STs.

d

Committee on Empowerment of Women

It examines the reports of the National Commission for Women and other matters related to the empowerment of women.

 

 

 

e

 

 

Committee on Government Assurances

 

 

It examines the assurances given by the ministers in the houses and check for their implementation. Separate committees are constituted in both the houses.

f

Joint Committee on Offices of Profit

It examines whether the persons elected as Members of Parliament hold any office of Profit.

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