LS Speaker seeks review of House panel system introduced in 1993

NEW DELHI: For the first time since they were introduced in 1993, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla has asked for a comprehensive review of the committee system that examines Budget proposals and important government policies and sought an opinion whether there was a need for changes in the manner in which the panels operate.
The decision is important as the introduction of 17 department-related standing committees during the tenure of Congress's Shivraj Patil as Speaker was a significant innovation that increased parliamentary scrutiny and gave MPs a larger role in examining legislation and important decisions of the day. The committee system, however, has been affected by delays in preparing reports and worrying incidence of absenteeism, noted by Rajya Sabha chairman Venkaiah Naidu in December.
"It was decided that constitution of all committees from historical perspective would be reviewed and examined if the overall system of committees of the Lok Sabha needs changes," a note prepared in the deliberations held by Birla said. The Speaker asked officials to examine the resolutions through which joint committees were constituted. He has also asked for a record of MPs who have accessed the library physically and digitally, noting the facility is a significant resource.