Legislation Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal will transfer a movement in Parliament on Thursday (December 19) for the Payments on the ‘One Nation, One Election’ proposal to be referred to a joint committee for additional examination.
The JPC to look at the Payments can have 21 members from the Lok Sabha and 10 members from the Rajya Sabha, together with Congress leaders Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and Manish Tewari, BJP’s Bansuri Swaraj and Anurag Singh Thakur, and NCP’s Supriya Sule.
Meghwal can be set to suggest that the committee submit its report on the Payments on the primary day of the final week of the subsequent session. What precisely are JPCs alleged to do and the way are they constituted? We clarify.
What’s a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC)?
A Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) is ready up by the Parliament for a particular function, just like the detailed scrutiny of a topic or Invoice. Because the identify suggests, it has members from each the Homes and from the ruling events and the opposition. It’s dissolved after its time period ends or its process has been accomplished.
Some examples of joint committees embody one on the Waqf Modification Invoice, 2024, arrange in August this 12 months, and on The Private Knowledge Safety Invoice of 2019. Others are mandated to research alleged irregularities, similar to of a monetary nature. For example, Congress members demanded earlier this 12 months {that a} JPC examine Hindenburg Analysis’s allegations towards Sebi chairperson Madhabi Puri Buch.
How is a JPC arrange?
A JPC is ready up after one Home of Parliament has handed a movement and the opposite has agreed to it. Members of the JPC are determined by the Parliament. The variety of members can fluctuate.
What can a JPC do?
In line with an article on PRS Legislative Analysis, the mandate of a JPC depends upon the movement constituting it. For instance, “The phrases of reference for the JPC on the inventory market rip-off requested the committee to look into monetary irregularities, to repair accountability on individuals and establishments for the rip-off, to determine regulatory loopholes and in addition to make appropriate suggestions,” the PRS article stated.
To fulfil its mandate in investigating a difficulty, a JPC can scrutinise paperwork and summon individuals for questioning. It then submits a report and makes suggestions to the federal government.
The proceedings and findings of the committee are confidential, besides in issues of public curiosity. The federal government can determine to withhold a doc whether it is thought-about prejudicial to the security or curiosity of the State. The Speaker has the ultimate phrase in case of a dispute over calling for proof.
How highly effective is a JPC?
Whereas the suggestions of a JPC have persuasive worth, they don’t seem to be binding on the federal government. The federal government can select to launch additional investigations based mostly on what the JPC has stated, however it could actually’t be compelled to take action.
“The federal government is required to report on the follow-up motion taken on the premise of the suggestions of the JPC and different committees. The committees then submit ‘Motion Taken Studies’ in Parliament on the premise of the federal government’s reply,” the PRS article says.
What JPCs have been arrange to date?
A number of JPCs have earlier been set-up, having investigative powers:
(i) to look at issues referring to Allocation and Pricing of Telecom Licenses and Spectrum
(ii) on Pesticide Residues in and Security Commonplace for Delicate Drinks, Fruit Juice and different Drinks
(iii) on Inventory Market Rip-off and Issues Relating thereto
(iv) to investigate into irregularities in Securities and Banking Transactions
(v) to investigate into Bofors Contract
(vi) to look at the Constitutional and Authorized Place Regarding Workplace of Revenue.”
That is an up to date model of an explainer first revealed in 2023.
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