Ethics Committees of Parliament

• Lok Sabha Speaker referred a complaint against TMC MP to the House Ethics Committee.

ABOUT ETHICS COMMITTEE

• The Speaker appoints members of the committee for one year.
• It consists of 15 members.
• Genesis
  • Rajya Sabha- Upper House’s Ethics Committee was constituted on March 4, 1997 — it was officially inaugurated two months later in May — to oversee the moral and ethical conduct of members and examine cases of misconduct referred to it.
    • The Rules applicable to the Committee of Privileges also apply to the ethics panel.
  • Lok Sabha- The Committee of Privileges recommended the constitution of an Ethics Committee during the 13th Lok Sabha.
    • Late Speaker G M C Balayogi constituted an ad-hoc Ethics Committee in 2000 and it became a permanent part of the House only in 2015

WORKING

• Any person can complain against a member through another Lok Sabha MP along with all evidence of misconduct and an affidavit stating that the complaint is not “false, frivolous or vexatious”.
• A member, too, can complain against another member with evidence without any need for an accompanying affidavit.
• The Committee does not entertain complaints based only on media reports or on sub-judice matters.
• The Speaker can refer to the committee any complaint against an MP.
• The committee makes a prima facie enquiry before deciding to examine a complaint and after the evaluation of the complaint makes its recommendations.
• The committee report is presented to the Speaker who asks the House if the report should be taken up for consideration.
  • There is also a provision for a half-an-hour discussion on the report.
• Difference from Privileges Committee
  • While MPs can be examined for breach of privilege on corruption charges, a person who is not an MP can also be accused of breach of privilege for actions that attack the authority and dignity of the House.
  • In the case of the Ethics Committee, however, only an MP can be examined for misconduct.