Q. Which of the following statements about the Ethics Committee in the Lok Sabha are correct?

  1. Initially it was an ad-hoc Committee.
  2. Only a Member of the Lok Sabha can make a complaint relating to unethical conduct of a member of the Lok Sabha.
  3. This Committee cannot take up any matter which is sub-judice.

Select the answer using the code given below:

  • 1 and 2 only
  • 2 and 3 only
  • 1 and 3 only
  • 1, 2 and 3

Answer: (c) 1 and 3 only

Ethics Committee:
  • Objective: It oversees the moral and ethical conduct of members and examines cases of misconduct referred to it.
  • History:
    • A Presiding Officers’ Conference held in Delhi in 1996 first mooted the idea of ethics panels for the two Houses.
    • Then Vice President (and Rajya Sabha Chairman) K R Narayanan constituted the Ethics Committee of the Upper House in 1997.
    • In the case of Lok Sabha, a study group of the House Committee of Privileges recommended (in 1997) the constitution of an Ethics Committee, but it could not be taken up by Lok Sabha.
      • The Committee of Privileges finally recommended the constitution of an Ethics Committee during the 13th Lok Sabha.
      • The late Speaker, G M C Balayogi, constituted an ad hoc Ethics Committee in 2000, which became a permanent part of the House only in 2015.
  • Appointment of members in Lok Sabha: The members of the Ethics Committee are appointed by the Speaker for a period of one year.
    • The 15-member Committee’s function is to examine every complaint relating to unethical conduct of a Member of Lok Sabha referred to it by the Speaker and make such recommendations as it may deem fit.
  • Procedure for complaints:
    • Any person can complain against a Member through another Lok Sabha MP, along with evidence of the alleged misconduct, and an affidavit stating that the complaint is not “false, frivolous, or vexatious”.
    • If the Member himself complains, the affidavit is not needed.
    • The Speaker can refer to the Committee any complaint against an MP.
    • The Committee does not entertain complaints based only on media reports or on matters that are sub-judice.
    • The Committee makes a prima facie inquiry before deciding to examine a complaint. It makes its recommendations after evaluating the complaint.
    • The Committee presents its report to the Speaker, who asks the House if the report should be taken up for consideration. There is also a provision for a half-hour discussion on the report.
  • Overlap with Privileges Committee:
    • The work of the Ethics Committee and the Privileges Committee often overlap. An allegation of corruption against an MP can be sent to either body, but usually more serious accusations go to the Privileges Committee.
    • The mandate of the Privileges Committee is to safeguard the “freedom, authority, and dignity of Parliament”.
    • These privileges are enjoyed by individual Members as well as the House as a whole. An MP can be examined for Breach of Privilege; a non-MP too can be accused of breach of privilege for actions that attack the authority and dignity of the House.
    • The Ethics Committee can take up only cases of misconduct that involve MPs.