The Hindu : New Delhi News : ‘Reduce number of parliamentary panels’

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Saturday, Nov 21, 2009
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‘Reduce number of parliamentary panels’

Sandeep Joshi

NEW DELHI: Recommending a reduction in the number of parliamentary committees, a research paper has called for induction of experts from academia and civil society into these forums in an advisory capacity. It has also called for frequent meetings of presiding officers of Parliament, Union Minister for Parliamentary Affairs and chief whips of different parties to review the committee affairs.

The paper on “Evaluating parliamentary committees and committee system: Changing contours of governance & policy” by National Social Watch Coalition has also recommended a reduction in the number of MPs on these committees and suggested abolition of consultative committees “as they serve no purpose”.

Similarly it has called for making the committee sphere public.

“Like Britain, the committee proceedings should be thrown open to the public, though the decision-making stage can be made in-camera,” it added.

It has also suggested that the parliamentary committees’ reports should be discussed at dedicated sittings with a non-voting proviso.

The research paper notes that there has been a geometric growth in the number of parliamentary committees over the years – from just 11 in 1953-54 to well over 100 now.

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