What is a Select Committee in Indian Parliament?

What’s in today’s article?

• Why in news?
• What is a Select Committee?
• How are a Select Committee’s members selected?
• How does a Select Committee work?
• What are the functions of a Select Committee?
• What happens once a Select Committee’s report is submitted?

 

Why in news?

• After at least four MPs complained that their names had been included in a proposed Select Committee for the Delhi Services Bill without their consent.
  • The Select Committee was proposed by Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MP Raghav Chadha in the Upper House.
• As a result, Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman announced a probe.

 

What is a Select Committee?

• About:
  • India’s Parliament has several types of committees which discharge different functions.
  • There are 12 Standing Committees that are permanent in nature, with their members nominated from time to time by the Chairman.
  • The Privileges Committee, which Shah wanted the Raghav Chadha matter referred to, is one such.
  • Then there are ad hoc or temporary committees, which are set up for a specific purpose, such as examining a particular Bill, and are dissolved once that purpose has been served.
  • A Select Committee belongs to this category.
• Procedure followed by the Select Committee
  • While a Select Committee is temporary in nature, the procedure it is to follow is laid down in the Rules of Procedure.
  • Under Rule 125 of the Rajya Sabha Rules and Procedures, any member may move an amendment that a Bill be referred to a Select Committee.
    • I.e., the motion to refer a Bill to a Select Committee can either be moved by the member in-charge of the Bill, or by any other MP.

 

How are a Select Committee’s members selected?

• According to the Rajya Sabha rules, “On a motion moved in and adopted by the House, Bills are from time to time referred to Select Committees, the members on which are specifically named in the motion.
• The members of the Select Committee on a Bill are appointed by the House when the motion that the Bill be referred to a Select Committee is made.
• No member is appointed to a Select Committee if he is not willing to serve on the Committee.
• The mover has to ascertain whether the member proposed by him is willing to serve on the Committee.
  • The rules do say that a proposed member’s consent has to be taken before he can serve on a Select Committee.
  • However, they do not specifically mention collecting signatures of those whose names have been proposed.
• Actual number of members
  • The actual number of membership of the Select Committee is not fixed; it varies from Committee to Committee.
  • If it is a Joint Committee, the proportion of members from the Rajya Sabha and the Lok Sabha is 1:2.
  • The Chairman of the Committee is appointed by the Chairman of the Rajya Sabha from among the members of the Committee.
  • The member or Minister in-charge of the Bill is generally included as a member of the Committee.

 

How does a Select Committee work?

• The quorum for each sitting needs to be one-third of the total number of members of the committee.
• In case of equality of votes on any matter, the chairman (or any other person presiding) will have a second or casting vote.
• A select committee may appoint a sub-committee to examine any special points connected with the Bill.
• The report will be signed on behalf of the committee by the chairman. Any member can record dissent.
• The report, along with notes of dissent, will be presented to the Rajya Sabha, printed and circulated among all members.

 

What are the functions of a Select Committee?

• The Committee’s job is to go through the text of the Bill, clause by clause.
• This is to ascertain that the Bill reflects clearly the intention behind the measure and the object proposed to be achieved is adequately brought out.
• The Committee may, for this purpose, invite memoranda from or take oral evidence of experts or interested persons and organisations.
• The Committee may also ask the Government officials to explain the policy behind the various provisions of the Bill and to supply to it such information and background material as may be required by it.
• After hearing the evidence, the Committee considers the various provisions of the Bill and formulates its conclusions and may amend the clauses, etc. of the Bill to bring about the intention clearly.
• The Committee may also visit organisations and institutions, etc. for on-the-spot study of a matter connected with the Bill.

 

What happens once a Select Committee’s report is submitted?

• The report of the committee is of a recommendatory nature. The government can choose to accept or reject its recommendations.
• A Select Committee can also include its version of the Bill.
• If they do so, the minister in charge of that particular Bill can move for the committee’s version of the Bill to be discussed and passed in the House.

 

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Q1) What is Rajya Sabha?

The Rajya Sabha, often referred to as the "Council of States," is one of the two houses of the Parliament of India, the other being the Lok Sabha or the "House of the People." The Rajya Sabha is the upper house of the Indian Parliament and plays a crucial role in the legislative process and the functioning of the government.

 

Q2) What is Rule 125 of the Rajya Sabha Rules and Procedures?

Under Rule 125 of the Rajya Sabha Rules and Procedures, any member may move an amendment that a Bill be referred to a Select Committee. The motion to refer a Bill to a Select Committee can either be moved by the member in-charge of the Bill, or by any other MP.

 

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Source: Row over Select Committee for Delhi Services Bill: What is this body, did Raghav Chadha flout rules?