The Joint Parliamentary Committee

The Joint Parliamentary Committee

Subject: Polity

Context: The Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) on Personal Data Protection Bill was given another extension on Friday, till the first week of the Winter Session of Parliament, 2021, to submit its final report.

Concept:

• A Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) is set up to examine a particular bill presented before the Parliament, or for the purpose of investigating cases of financial irregularities in any government activity
• A Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) is an ad-hoc body. It is set up for a specific object and duration. Joint committees are set up by a motion passed in one house of Parliament and agreed to by the other.
• The details regarding membership and subjects are also decided by Parliament.
• The mandate of a JPC depends on the motion constituting it. This need not be limited to the scrutiny of government finances
• JPC recommendations have persuasive value but the committee cannot force the government to take any action on the basis of its report.
• The government may decide to launch fresh investigations on the basis of a JPC report. However, the discretion to do so rests entirely with the government.
• The government is required to report on the follow-up action taken on the basis of the recommendations of the JPC and other committees.
• The committees then submit ‘Action Taken Reports’ in Parliament on the basis of the government’s reply.
• These reports can be discussed in Parliament and the government can be questioned on the basis of the same.
• The government can disagree with the JPC’s findings and refuse to take such action.

Powers

• The government can take the decision to withhold a document if it is considered prejudicial to the safety or interest of the State.
• A JPC is authorised to collect evidence in oral or written form or demand documents in connection with the matter.
• The Speaker has the final word in case of a dispute over calling for evidence.
• The committee can invite interested parties for inquiry and summon people to appear before it
• The proceedings and findings of the committee are confidential, except in matters of public interest.
• The committee gets disbanded following the submission of its report to Parliament.