SELECT COMMITTEE

Subject: Polity

Context: During the debate on farm bills in the both houses of the Parliament, members from opposition parties had expressed their concerns regarding several provisions and demanded for a select committtee to review the bill.

Concept:

• This is formed for examining a particular Bill and its membership is limited to MPs from one House.
• They are chaired by MPs from the ruling party.
• Since Select Committees are constituted for a specific purpose, they are disbanded after their report.

Parliament Scrutiny of Bills:

• By discussing it on the floor of the two Houses: This is a legislative requirement; all Bills have to be taken up for debate.
• By referring a Bill to a parliamentary committee: There is not enough time to discuss every Bill in detail on the floor of the House. In such scenarios, the bill are referred to a parliamentary committee.
• Referring of Bills to parliamentary committees is not mandatory.
• Bills are not automatically sent to committees for examination.

Three broad paths by which a Bill can reach a committee :

• When the minister piloting the Bill recommends to the House that his Bill be examined by a Select Committee of the House or a joint committee of both Houses.
• If the minister makes no such motion, it is up to the presiding officer of the House to decide whether to send a Bill to a departmentally related Standing Committee.
• Also, a Bill passed by one House can be sent by the other House to its Select Committee.

What happens after the the bill is referred to a committee?

• The committee undertakes a detailed examination of the Bill.
• It invites comments and suggestions from experts, stakeholders and citizens.
• The government also appears before the committee to present its viewpoint.
• All this results in a report that makes suggestions for strengthening the Bill.
• The report of the committee is of a recommendatory nature.