Parliamentary Committee

 A Parliamentary Committee is a group of Members of Parliament (MPs) who are either appointed or elected by the House or nominated by the Speaker or Chairman. These committees work under the Speaker or Chairman’s guidance and report their findings back to the House or the Speaker/Chairman.
The concept of Parliamentary Committees originated from the British Parliament, and they derive their authority from Articles 105 and 118 of the Indian Constitution.

• Article 105 defines the privileges of MPs.
  
• Article 118 grants Parliament the power to create rules governing its proceedings and conduct of business.
  

Why Are Parliamentary Committees Necessary?
While a Bill is introduced in either House of Parliament to start the legislative process, lawmaking is often intricate, and Parliament’s time is limited for detailed discussions. Additionally, the growing political polarization and lack of consensus in Parliament has led to heated and inconclusive debates. As a result, a large portion of legislative work is now carried out within Parliamentary Committees.

Types of Parliamentary Committees
India’s Parliament has various types of committees, which can be categorized based on their function, membership, and duration. Broadly, they are divided into two categories: Standing Committees and Ad Hoc Committees.

• Standing Committees: These are permanent and function on a continuous basis, either formed annually or periodically. They include:
  
  • Financial Committees
    
  • Departmental Standing Committees
    
  • Committees for Enquiries
    
  • Committees for Scrutiny and Control
    
  • Committees Relating to Day-to-Day Business
    
  • Housekeeping or Service Committees
    
• Ad Hoc Committees: These are temporary and dissolve after completing their assigned tasks. They are divided into:
  
  • Inquiry Committees
    
  • Advisory Committees
    

The most prominent Ad Hoc Committees are the Select Committees and Joint Committees on Bills.

Why Are Parliamentary Committees Significant?

• Expert Legislative Advice: MPs often lack expertise on specific issues, so Parliamentary Committees offer a platform to seek advice from experts and stakeholders, allowing MPs to make informed decisions.
  
• Acting as a ‘Mini-Parliament’: Committees function as a smaller version of Parliament, with members from different parties elected based on their proportional strength in the Parliament. This ensures balanced representation.
  
• Detailed Scrutiny of Bills: Committees provide an in-depth review of bills by gathering inputs from various external sources, including the public, to ensure comprehensive evaluation.
  
• Government Accountability: While committee recommendations are not binding, they create a public record and pressure the government to reconsider controversial provisions. The private nature of committee meetings also fosters more collaborative and less media-driven discussions.
  

Challenges with the Sidelining of Parliamentary Committees

• Weakening of the Parliamentary System: A parliamentary democracy operates on the principle of a fusion of powers between Parliament and the executive, with Parliament ensuring oversight of the government. Bypassing committees in important legislative matters weakens this system and undermines democracy.
  
• Dominance of Majority: In India, it’s not mandatory for bills to be referred to committees; it’s at the discretion of the Speaker in the Lok Sabha and the Chairperson in the Rajya Sabha. This gives the ruling party significant power, especially in the Lok Sabha, where they often hold a dominant majority.
  

The Way Forward
Ensuring that significant bills undergo scrutiny is not an obstacle to the legislative process, but rather a necessary step for maintaining the quality of legislation and governance. A robust committee system is vital to uphold the integrity and credibility of the law-making process in Parliament.