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In the 15th Lok Sabha, 7 retired of 10 bills were sent to committees for scrutiny.
135 down to 55! The mean fig of days Parliament sits annually has gone down from 135 days successful the archetypal Lok Sabha to 55 days successful the 17th Lok Sabha (2019-24). So what happens during the remaining 300 days? Standing Committees, which see and study connected Demand for Grants, Bills, yearly reports, and sermon nationalist basal semipermanent argumentation documents of the acrophobic department/ministries, are wherever astir of the enactment takes spot erstwhile Parliament is not successful session. Unfortunately, these committees person been undermined by governments not unfastened to deliberation and debate.
After overmuch delay, the 24 Departmentally Related Standing Committees (DRSC) were precocious reconstituted and their chairpersons appointed. Each DRSC consists of 31 members from crossed parties, 21 from Lok Sabha and 10 from Rajya Sabha. In the past fewer weeks, these committees person started holding their archetypal meetings. (Just to clarify, the aggravated deliberations connected the Waqf Bill are taking spot successful a Joint Parliamentary Committee — not to beryllium confused with a DRSC.) As we spell to press, determination are conflicting opinions connected whether regulatory bodies similar SEBI tin travel nether the scrutiny of the Public Accounts Committee.
Despite each the activity, Standing Committees are not performing arsenic they are mandated to. Take the Committee connected Social Justice and Empowerment: It oversees 3 captious ministries — Minority Affairs, Tribal Affairs, and Social Justice and Empowerment. Yet, successful 2023, immoderate MPs attended lone 1 oregon 2 of its 16 meetings. Only 2 retired of 24 committees are chaired by women. The Standing Committee connected Women Empowerment, an administrative committee to urge measures to amended the presumption of women, has not yet been constituted for the 18th Lok Sabha. The Departmentally Related Standing Committee connected Education, Women, Children, Youth, and Sports hasn’t had a pistillate chairperson successful the past 2 decades.
In the 15th Lok Sabha, 7 retired of 10 bills were sent to committees for scrutiny. Fast guardant to the 17th Lok Sabha, and that fig dropped to conscionable 1 retired of five. Bills are present wrapped up successful an mean of lone 9 sittings, with the 3 Criminal Law Bills discussed unneurotic successful conscionable 12 sittings. For committees to beryllium taken seriously, their reports request to beryllium regularly tabled and discussed successful Parliament. The Committee connected Papers Laid connected The Table has repeatedly flagged ongoing delays successful tabling reports. In 2018, the Committee connected External Affairs had its findings connected the Doklam contented stalled for months owed to absorption from MPs of the ruling dispensation.
When asked if committee recommendations should beryllium made binding connected the government, erstwhile Lok Sabha Speaker and legendary Parliamentarian Somnath Chatterjee replied, “No, they should not. But I would similar the authorities to springiness bully reasons for not accepting a recommendation.” Your columnist thinks it is clip for an overhaul. Here are 5 circumstantial suggestions.
One: According to the rules, the authorities is required to respond to committee recommendations wrong six months. This should beryllium brought down to 60 days, arsenic practised successful the British House of Commons.
Two: MPs service successful committees for conscionable a year, starring to changeless reshuffling and deficiency of expertise. Take a cue from the US Congress’ imperishable Standing Committees oregon Kerala’s Legislative Assembly, with a 30-month tenure. A longer tenure volition enactment better.
Three: A Parliamentary Committee connected National Economy should beryllium formed to annually analyse the authorities of the economy. Short-duration discussions should beryllium initiated successful some Houses of Parliament to sermon the reports. This should beryllium followed by a effect from the Minister. Public borrowing, arsenic it affects aboriginal governments, should besides beryllium reviewed by this committee.
Four: In a national democracy, the work of the Parliament portion passing Constitution Amendment Bills is immense. Therefore, a Constitution Committee should beryllium established for anterior scrutiny to cheque if these are ultra vires to the Constitution, and fortify the credibility of law amendments.
Five: Pre-budget scrutiny and due introspection of Demand for Grants (DFGs) indispensable not beryllium sidelined due to the fact that of elections. Following the constitution of Lok Sabhas successful 2014, 2019, and 2024, DFGs were not sent to Standing Committees. The precedent acceptable successful the 11th Lok Sabha (1996) should beryllium followed. The Union Budget was presented connected July 22. The House adjourned connected August 2 and was reconvened connected August 26, for committees to reappraisal the Demand for Grants.
P.S. Some observers suggest that proceedings of committee meetings should beryllium telecast unrecorded connected Sansad TV, conscionable arsenic Parliamentary proceedings are. Not a bully idea. Why? That is simply a taxable for different column.
The writer is MP and leader, All India Trinamool Congress Parliamentary Party (Rajya Sabha). Research by Anagha
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