Sambhav-2024

• Introduce the answer by defining Parliamentary Committees.
• Discuss the challenges and limitations faced by the Parliamentary Committees.
• Suggest some reforms and measures to enhance the role and effectiveness of Parliamentary Committees.
• Conclude Suitably.

Parliamentary Committees are the committees that are appointed or elected by the House or nominated by the Presiding Officer to assist the Parliament in its work. They are of two kinds: Standing Committees and Ad hoc Committees.

• Standing Committees are permanent and regular committees that are constituted from time to time in pursuance of the provisions of an Act of Parliament or Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in Lok Sabha.
• Ad hoc Committees are temporary and specific committees that are formed for a particular purpose and cease to exist when they finish their task and submit a report.

The significance of the Parliamentary Committees are:

• They improve the effectiveness of Parliament by serving as a mechanism to scrutinize legislation and hold the executive accountable.
• They facilitate inter-ministerial coordination by working closely with multiple Ministries.
• They provide a forum for consensus-building across political parties, as they have closed-door meetings and allow for free discussion.
• They enhance the quality of debate and deliberation on various issues, as they have access to domain experts and government officials.

The functions of the Parliamentary Committees are:

• They examine Bills, demands for grants, annual reports, and long-term plans of Ministries/departments.
• They investigate cases of corruption, irregularities, and inefficiencies in the administration and public affairs.
• They suggest changes and amendments to the Bills and policies of the government, based on their findings and recommendations.
• They monitor and evaluate the implementation and impact of the laws and policies enacted by the Parliament.

Parliamentary Committees also face several challenges and limitations that hamper their role and effectiveness. Some of these are:

• Lack of transparency and public access to the proceedings and reports of the committees, which reduces the scope for public scrutiny and feedback.
• Lack of adequate resources, expertise, and staff support to the committees, which affects their quality and output.
• Lack of autonomy and independence of the committees, which are often influenced by the party whips, executive interference, and political considerations.
• Lack of participation and attendance of the members of the committees, which affects their functioning and credibility.

Some of the reforms and measures that can be suggested to enhance the role and effectiveness of Parliamentary Committees are:

• Making the proceedings and reports of the committees more transparent and accessible to the public, media, and other stakeholders, by live-streaming, publishing, and archiving them online.
• Providing more resources, expertise, and staff support to the committees, by increasing their budget, hiring more qualified and experienced personnel, and engaging with external consultants and research institutions.
• Strengthening the autonomy and independence of the committees, by ensuring that they are constituted in a fair and proportional manner, that they have the power to summon any person or document, and that they are not bound by the party whips or executive directions.
• Enhancing the participation and attendance of the members of the committees, by making it mandatory for them to attend the meetings, by giving them incentives for their performance, and by penalizing them for their absence or misconduct.

Conclusion

Indian Parliamentary Committees are crucial for improving legislative and oversight functions. Despite their importance, they encounter challenges. Reforms are needed for enhanced representation, responsiveness, and accountability to the people and the Constitution.