Committee overseeing moral and ethical standards
Indian Parliament's Ethics Committees: Upholding Integrity and Accountability
The Ethics Committees in each house of the Indian Parliament play a crucial role in maintaining and enforcing ethical standards of conduct among its members. These committees are instrumental in ensuring that the parliamentary democracy functions with integrity and accountability.
Lok Sabha Ethics Committee
The Lok Sabha Ethics Committee, composed of 30 members exclusively from the Lok Sabha, is elected annually by its members through proportional representation using a single transferable vote system. The committee's chairperson is appointed by the Speaker of Lok Sabha, typically from the ruling party. Ministers are not eligible to be members, and if a member becomes a minister, they vacate their ethics committee seat automatically. Members serve a one-year term and are responsible for examining the ethical conduct of Lok Sabha members, recommending action in cases of breach of ethics or code of conduct.
Rajya Sabha Ethics Committee
While the Rajya Sabha has ethics oversight mechanisms, the specifics about the exact composition and appointment of an Ethics Committee similar to the Lok Sabha's are less explicit in current sources. However, Rajya Sabha committees generally function with elected members or nominated distinguished individuals. The Ethics Committee in Rajya Sabha deals with members’ ethical conduct and related complaints and functions continuously with members serving terms as fixed by the house rules.
Responsibilities of Ethics Committees in Each House
Both committees share common responsibilities, including reviewing complaints regarding breaches of the code of conduct by Members of Parliament, investigating ethical violations, promoting transparency and accountability among MPs, and upholding parliamentary integrity by advising members on ethical standards and conflict of interest issues.
Table: Comparison of Ethics Committees in Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha
| Aspect | Lok Sabha Ethics Committee | Rajya Sabha Ethics Committee | |------------------------|---------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------| | Composition | 30 members all from Lok Sabha | Members elected or nominated; exact composition less detailed in sources | | Appointment | Annually elected via proportional representation (single transferable vote) | Members chosen as per house rules; Vice President is ex-officio Chairman | | Chairperson | Appointed by Speaker, usually ruling party | Elected or appointed as per house rules | | Eligibility | Ministers excluded; members vacate seat if they become ministers | Members as per house rules; nominations include distinguished individuals | | Term | 1 year | Terms aligned with Rajya Sabha rules (6-year terms for MPs) | | Responsibilities | Inspect ethical conduct and recommend disciplinary action | Review ethical conduct, handle complaints, uphold parliamentary ethics |
These committees ensure that Members of Parliament adhere to prescribed ethical norms, enhancing the integrity and functioning of Indian parliamentary democracy. They handle complaints from lay citizens against lawmakers, are tasked with addressing misbehavior by its members, and are responsible for addressing complaints against lawmakers from the public. The entity oversees the moral and ethical conduct of its members, contributing significantly to the maintenance of a fair and transparent parliamentary system.
[1] Indian Parliament's Lok Sabha Ethics Committee [2] Indian Parliament's Rajya Sabha Ethics Committee
- The Indian Parliament's Lok Sabha Ethics Committee, comprised of 30 members from the Lok Sabha, is charged with examining the ethical conduct of its members, recommending action in cases of breach, and ensuring adherence to ethical norms within the Indian parliamentary democracy.
- The Indian Parliament's Rajya Sabha Ethics Committee, though its composition is less explicit in current sources, deals with members’ ethical conduct, handles complaints, and functions continuously in upholding parliamentary ethics, contributing significantly to the maintenance of a fair and transparent parliamentary system.
