70^th BPSC Mains

Approach Briefly introduce the Parliamentary Committees. Examine their role and effectiveness. Suggest reforms to strengthen these Committees. Conclude suitably.

Introduction

Parliamentary Committees play a crucial role in ensuring legislative scrutiny, executive accountability, and financial oversight. These committees, consisting of Members of Parliament (MPs), function under the direction of the Speaker (Lok Sabha) or Chairman (Rajya Sabha) and present reports to their respective Houses. Rooted in the British parliamentary system, they derive their authority from Article 105 (parliamentary privileges) and Article 118 (procedure and conduct of business in Parliament).

Body

Classification of Parliamentary Committees:

• Standing Committees (Permanent Committees)
  • Constituted at the beginning of each session and remain in operation throughout.
  • Includes:
    • Financial Committees (Estimates Committee, Public Accounts Committee, Committee on Public Undertakings).
    • Departmental Standing Committees (DRSCs) covering key ministries.
    • Committees on Government Assurances, Privileges, and Ethics to ensure legislative discipline.
• Ad Hoc Committees (Temporary Committees)
  • Formed for specific purposes and dissolved once the task is completed.
  • Includes Select and Joint Committees on Bills, Inquiry Committees, and committees on special public issues.

Role of Parliamentary Committees:

• Legislative Scrutiny
  • Committees examine proposed bills in detail, refining legal provisions and ensuring public interest.
  • Example: The Committee on Health and Family Welfare analyzed the Surrogacy (Regulation) Bill, 2016, suggesting key amendments.
• Executive Oversight and Accountability
  • The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) audits government expenditures and CAG reports, preventing financial irregularities.
• Budgetary Review
  • DRSCs evaluate ministry-wise budget allocations, improving fiscal discipline.
  • Example: The Committee on Food and Consumer Affairs suggested reforms in the Consumer Protection Act, 2019 to strengthen consumer rights.
• Inter-Ministerial Coordination
  • Committees facilitate dialogue across ministries, ensuring efficient governance and policy integration.
• Consensus Building and Public Engagement
  • Closed-door discussions help MPs collaborate beyond party lines, fostering informed decision-making.
  • Committees enable public participation in governance by allowing expert and stakeholder consultations.

Challenges Undermining Effectiveness:

• Declining Referral of Bills to Committees
  • PRS Legislative Research data indicates a steep decline:
    • 14th Lok Sabha – 60% of bills referred to DRSCs.
    • 16th Lok Sabha – Only 27% referred, weakening deliberative democracy.
• Bypassing Committees on Crucial Legislations
  • Laws like the abrogation of Article 370 were not referred to any committee, limiting structured debate.
• Poor Attendance and Limited Participation
  • Average attendance in committee meetings is around 50% since 2014-15, affecting discussion quality.
• Politicization of Committee Proceedings
  • MPs often prioritize party lines over objective discussions, reducing neutrality in scrutiny.
• Short Tenure of Members
  • Annual reconstitution prevents members from gaining specialized expertise, reducing committee efficiency.
• Lack of Research and Resources
  • Committees lack independent research support, impacting the depth of analysis in reports.
• Limited Powers of Implementation
  • The government is not legally bound to implement committee recommendations, weakening their influence.
• Weak Budget Scrutiny
  • In the 16th Lok Sabha, only 17% of the budget was discussed in Parliament, reducing financial accountability.

Reforms to Strengthen Parliamentary Committees:

• Increase Committee Tenure
  • The Ramacharyulu Committee recommended extending tenure from one year to two years to allow expertise development.
• Mandatory Discussion of Committee Reports
  • The National Commission to Review the Working of the Constitution (2002) proposed that committee reports should be debated in Parliament for greater accountability.
• Ensure Automatic Referral of Bills
  • Amending Rules of Procedure to mandate all significant bills be sent to DRSCs.
• Enhance Research and Expert Support
  • Establishing independent research teams and subject matter specialists to improve the depth of committee analyses.
• Improve Attendance and Non-Partisan Deliberations
  • Setting minimum attendance requirements and encouraging bipartisan discussions for better decision-making.
• Strengthen Public Awareness and Transparency
  • Making committee findings more accessible to citizens through simplified reports and public consultations.

Conclusion

Parliamentary Committees are essential for effective law-making, executive accountability, and policy oversight. However, declining bill referrals, increasing political influence, and weak implementation of recommendations have reduced their impact. Strengthening committee tenure, research support, and legislative scrutiny mechanisms is necessary to restore their effectiveness and uphold parliamentary democracy.