(vide para 8.2)
GUIDELINES FORMULATED IN APRIL, 1969 TO REGULATE THE CONSTITUTION AND FUNCTIONING OF THE CONSULTATIVE COMMITTEES FOR VARIOUS MINISTRIES AND DEPARTMENTS.
1.
The
Informal Consultative Committees will henceforth be known as Consultative
Committees. These Committees are not,
however , comparable to the Standing Committees of Parliament. The deliberations of these Committees would remain informal and no
reference to the discussions held in the meetings thereof would be made on the floor
of the House.
2.
Government
will fix the strength of these Committees in consultation with the opposition
parties with due regard to the respective strengths of various parties in Parliament. Each party may choose its own nominees to
these Committees.
3.
The
Minister concerned with each Ministry/Department shall preside over the meeting
of the Consultative Committee attached to his Ministry. Whenever for exceptional reasons this is not possible, the meeting
will either be presided over by the Minister of State of the Ministry or the
meeting will be postponed.
4.
Notices
etc. for Consultative Committee meeting will be issued to the regular Members
of the Committee. If any member other
than the Members of the Consultative Committees suggests any points for
discussion in the meeting of a particular Committee, he may be invited for the
meeting subject to the condition that he will not be entitled to any TA/DA for
attending such meeting. A regular
member will, however, be entitled to TA/DA for attending the meeting held
during inter – session period as per prescribed administrative orders.
5.
Meetings
of the Committees should be normally arranged during session period. It has also been agreed to hold one meeting
of each Committee during inter – session period and the date of that meeting
may be decided if possible, during the previous meeting. The duration of the meeting should be left
to the Chairman depending on the business to be transacted.
6.
These
meetings would be attended by the senior officers of the Ministries who could
assist the Minister in regard to information on specific items on the agenda
and provide the Minister with facts and figures. The Committees would not have the right to summon any witness, to
send for or demand the production of any files, or to examine any official
records. The Chairman of the
Committee may , however, furnish any
additional information required by members.
7.
Brief
record of discussion in the meetings on specific matters for which adequate
notice has been given, will be circulated to the members. Where there is unanimity of view in the
Committee, Government will normally accept the view subject to the following
exceptions viz.,
(i)
any
view having financial implications;
(ii)
any
view concerning Security, Defence, External Affairs and Atomic Energy; and
(iii)
any
matter falling within the purview of an autonomous Corporation.
In case of non – acceptance,
reason thereof will be given to the Committee.
8.
These
Committees would be formed for all the Ministries/Departments.
9.
The
reconstitution of the Committees will normally be timed with Budget Session.
10. Secretary of the Ministry of
Parliamentary Affairs will notify the constitution of these
Committees.
11. At
these Committees, Members of Parliament are free to discuss any matter which
can appropriately be discussed in Parliament.
It would not, however, be desirable to refer on the floor of the House
to anything which might have taken place in the Consultative Committees. This will be binding on both, the Government
and the Members.
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