Parliamentary committees are at the deliberative core of parliamentary work which is crucial for refining legislations. Elucidate.

Types of Parliamentary Committees

Parliamentary committees can be broadly categorized into two types:

• Standing Committees: These are permanent committees constituted for a specific period (usually one year) and deal with matters of continuous nature. Examples include the Standing Committee on Finance, the Standing Committee on Home Affairs, etc.
• Ad-hoc Committees: These are appointed for a specific task and cease to exist once they have completed their assigned work. Examples include the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) on the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2019.

Functions of Parliamentary Committees in Refining Legislation

Parliamentary committees contribute to refining legislation in several ways:

• Detailed Scrutiny of Bills: Committees examine bills clause by clause, identifying ambiguities, inconsistencies, and potential issues. This detailed scrutiny often leads to significant improvements in the bill’s drafting.
• Expert Consultation: Committees invite experts, stakeholders, and representatives from civil society to provide their inputs on the bill. This ensures that the legislation is informed by a wide range of perspectives.
• Public Participation: Many committees hold public hearings, allowing citizens to express their views on the bill. This enhances transparency and accountability.
• Consensus Building: Committees facilitate discussions and negotiations among MPs from different parties, fostering consensus on key issues.
• Reducing Legislative Burden: By pre-scrutinizing bills, committees reduce the burden on the Parliament, allowing it to focus on more pressing matters.

Examples of Committee Impact

Several instances demonstrate the crucial role of parliamentary committees in refining legislation:

• The Information Technology Act, 2000: The Standing Committee on Communications significantly revised the original draft of the IT Act, addressing concerns related to privacy and data security.
• The Right to Education Act, 2009: The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Human Resource Development played a vital role in shaping the final version of the RTE Act, ensuring that it was aligned with constitutional principles and international standards.
• The Goods and Services Tax (GST) Council: While not a parliamentary committee in the traditional sense, the GST Council exemplifies deliberative governance, involving both central and state governments in refining tax policies.

Challenges Faced by Parliamentary Committees

Despite their importance, parliamentary committees face certain challenges:

• Lack of Adequate Resources: Committees often lack sufficient funding and staff to conduct thorough research and analysis.
• Political Polarization: Partisan politics can sometimes hinder the committee’s ability to reach consensus.
• Low Public Awareness: Many citizens are unaware of the work done by parliamentary committees.
• Attendance Issues: Irregular attendance of MPs can hamper effective deliberations.

Recent trends show an increasing reliance on committees for pre-legislative consultation, as recommended by the Second Administrative Reforms Commission (2008). This highlights the growing recognition of their value in improving the quality of legislation.