Parliamentary committee system in India(Indian Polity)
Parliamentary committee system in India(Indian Polity)
Context
:
Jairam Ramesh condemned the remarks made by Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan who criticised the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Education for allegedly acting with political bias during the NEET controversy. Chief Whip of rajya sabha argued that the minister undermined the dignity, neutrality, and institutional authority of Parliamentary Committees.
About the Parliamentary Committees:
In the legislative processes, Parliamentary Committees considered mini-Parliaments within the Parliament.
They are tasked with commenting and advising the two Houses of Parliament on the Bills submitted and other important issues.
Constitution of India mentioned these committees at different places, but without making any specific provisions regarding their composition, tenure, functions, etc.
They are dealt by the Rules of two Houses.
Classification of the Committees:
In 1993, seventeen Department Related Standing Committees (DRSC), eleven for the Lok Sabha and six for the Rajya Sabha, were created at the advice the then speaker Shivraj Patil.
Now there are 24 DRSCs including 8 committees serviced by Rajya sabha Secretariat and 16 committes serviced by Lok sabha Secretariat.
These are permanent committees that are reconstituted on a yearly basis, functioning with a strength of 21 members from the Lok Sabha, and 10 from the Rajya Sabha.
Broadly, there are two types of committees in the two Houses;
Standing Committees
Ad hoc Committees.
The Standing Committees are permanent in nature, while the Ad hoc committees are task and responsibility specific and cease to exist after serving their purpose.
The two Houses also form Joint Parliamentary Committees consisting of members drawn from both the Houses.
Election:
The members in each committee are elected in the same way as the President of India is elected, which is proportional representation, by means of a single transferable vote.
Finance -related Standing Committes:
Three finance related Standing Committes have been working under the Lok sabha.
Public Accounts Committee,
Estimates Committee and
Public Undertakings Committee
Having a limited role in fiscal and financial legislation, the Rajya Sabha has not created any finance related committee