LUXMIKANT POLITY CRUX NOTES-CHAPTER-23

·         Assisted by a number of committees in discharge of his duties.

·         The Constitution does not mention committees directly in specific provisions – mentioned throughout – matter is dealt by the rules of the two houses

·         Parliamentary committee means:

a.       Committee appointed or elected by the house or nominated by Speaker/Chairman.

b.       Works under direction of the Speaker/Chairman.

c.        Presents its report to the house or to the Speaker/Chairman.

d.       Has Secretariat provided by LS/RS

Classification:

a.       Standing:

–          Permanent-constituted every year or periodically.

–          Work on continuous basis

–          Six categories:

i.                     Financial committees.

ii.                    Departmental standing committees.

iii.                  Committees to enquire.

iv.                  Committees to scrutinise and control.

v.                   Committees relating to day to day business of the house.

vi.                  Housekeeping committee or services committee

b.       Ad Hoc:

–          Cease to exist on completion of the task assigned to them

–          Two categories:

i.                     Inquiry committees.

ii.                    Advisory committees

·         setup in 1921 by the GOI Act of 1919

·         22 member, 15:7 :: LS/RS as 2: 1

·         Member elected by Proportion Representation amongst its member.

·         Chairman – Ruling party but after 1967 – From opposition

·         Tenure – 1 year

·         Work – to annual audit report of CAG [CAG as a Guide friend]

·         Audit report on appropriation, Finance, Public under taking

·         Examines public expenditure not only from legal and formal point of you – but to discover the view of economy, prudence, wisdom – bring out cases of waste, loss, corruption and inefficient expenses

b.       Estimates Committee:

·         1 year tenure, early traces in 1921

·         After Independence – 1950 set up on recommendation of John Mathali.

·         1 year tenure, early traces in 1921

·         After Independence – 1950 [ F>M. John Meithei Recommend]

·         25 members but in 1956 but raised to 30.

·         All from LS, Proportional Representation

·         Single transferable cote

·         Minister cannot be member

·         Chairman – appointed by the Speaker (mainly Ruling Party)

·         Work – to report what economics improvement, organisation, weather the money is well laid.

c.        Committee on Public Undertakings:

·         Created in 1964 on the recommendation of Krishna Menon committee.

·         Originally 15 members ( 10 LS+ 5RS)

·         In 1974, raised to 22 (15 LS + 7RS)

·         Members elected by parliament each year from amongst the Members

·         Elected – proportional representation of single transferable vote.

·         Term of office one year.

·         Minister cannot be elected as member of the committee.

·         Chairman appointed by Speaker of LS only

·         Function – examine the reports of public undertakings, CAG.

↓         ↓

8(RS)    16(LS)

31 member in each Comm. – 2: 1

Nominative Member

↓              ↓                ↓

LS-15      LS- 15       LS- 2000

RS-10     RS- 10       RS- 1997

b.       Committee on subordinate legislation.

c.        Committee on papers laid on the table.

d.       Committee on welfare of SC/ST.

e.        Committee on empowerment of women.

f.        Joint committee on offices of profit

·         Constituted by ministry of Parliament affairs.