Committee on Moral Principles
Parliament's Ethics Committees: Upholding Integrity and Dignity in India's Houses
The ethics committees in India's two Houses of Parliament, the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, serve as specialized parliamentary bodies tasked with maintaining the ethical conduct and discipline of Members of Parliament (MPs).
Role of Ethics Committees
These committees play a pivotal role in promoting ethical standards among MPs by examining allegations of misconduct or breach of parliamentary rules and code of conduct. If an MP is found guilty of ethical violations, the committees suggest appropriate action or sanctions. They also uphold the integrity and dignity of Parliament by ensuring members adhere to established norms.
Acting as a quasi-judicial body within the parliamentary framework, the ethics committees maintain discipline and corrective measures. They facilitate transparency and accountability in the behavior of parliamentarians, thereby strengthening democratic governance.
Composition and Structure
The Lok Sabha Ethics Committee consists of approximately 30 members, all from the Lok Sabha, with no representation from the Rajya Sabha. Members are elected annually by the Lok Sabha through the proportional representation with a single transferable vote system. The Speaker appoints the Chairperson, who is typically from the ruling party. Members who become ministers lose their eligibility on the committee.
The Rajya Sabha Ethics Committee is a separate committee constituted by the Rajya Sabha with members drawn exclusively from the Rajya Sabha. It follows similar principles regarding election and tenure but is independent from the Lok Sabha committee.
Members serve for a one-year term, ensuring periodic renewal and accountability. Ministers are not eligible to be part of these committees to avoid conflicts of interest.
Additional Context
These ethics committees are part of a broader parliamentary oversight framework which includes Question Hour, Zero Hour, and other standing committees to keep the executive accountable and maintain legislative discipline. The ethical committees contribute to Parliament’s role in maintaining transparency and good governance, critical pillars of India's democratic system.
Although the precise membership and current chairs of these committees are not provided in the search results, the clear separation of membership between Houses and the annual election process are consistent features of the committees. The Lok Sabha ethics committee has more members than the Rajya Sabha ethics committee, with the exact numbers being 15 and 10, respectively. The term of the ethics committee members and the appointments are for a period of one year.
- Ensuring parliamentary oversight, the ethics committees in India's Houses, while maintaining an annual cycle of renewal, also contribute to the broader policy-and-legislation landscape in politics by upholding ethical standards among Members of Parliament.
- Moreover, these committees in the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, while serving as a part of the general-news discourse, offer suggestions for appropriate action or sanctions when ethical violations are discovered, thereby fostering a culture of accountability in parliamentary democracy.
