Parliament of India Rajya Sabha 41

PARLIAMENT OF INDIA RAJYA SABHA 41

DEPARTMENT-RELATED PARLIAMENTARY STANDING COMMITTEE ON PERSONNEL, PUBLIC GRIEVANCES, LAW AND JUSTICE

FORTY FIRST REPORT ON ACTION TAKEN REPLIES OF THE GOVERNMENT ON THE RECOMMENDATIONS/OBSERVATIONS CONTAINED IN THE 23RD REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON “GOVERNMENT’S POLICY OF APPOINTMENT ON COMPASSIONATE GROUND”

(PRESENTED TO THE RAJYA SABHA ON 4th AUGUST, 2010) (LAID ON THE TABLE OF THE LOK SABHA ON 4th AUGUST, 2010)

RAJYA SABHA SECRETARIAT NEW DELHI AUGUST, 2010/SHRAVANA 1932 (SAKA) Website:http://rajyasabha.nic.in E-mail:[email protected] CS (P & L)-81

PARLIAMENT OF INDIA RAJYA SABHA

DEPARTMENT-RELATED PARLIAMENTARY STANDING COMMITTEE ON PERSONNEL, PUBLIC GRIEVANCES, LAW AND JUSTICE

(PRESENTED TO THE RAJYA SABHA ON 4th AUGUST, 2010) (LAID ON THE TABLE OF THE LOK SABHA ON 4th AUGUST, 2010)

RAJYA SABHA SECRETARIAT NEW DELHI

AUGUST, 2010/SHRAVANA, 1932 (SAKA)

CONTENTS

PAGES

1. COMPOSITION OF THE COMMITTEE ...... (i)-(ii)

2. INTRODUCTION ...... (iii)

3. REPORT ...... 1

(i) CHAPTER – I – Recommendations/observations which have been accepted by the Ministry...... 2

(ii) CHAPTER – II – Recommendations/observations which the Committee does not desire to pursue for now in view of the Government’s Action Taken Replies .... 3—6

(iii) CHAPTER – III – Recommendations/observations in respect of which the Committee has not accepted replies of the Ministry ...... 7—10

(iv) CHAPTER – IV – Recommendations/observations in respect of which Final Replies of the Ministry have not been received ...... 11

4. RELEVANT MINUTES OF THE MEETINGS OF THE COMMITTEE ...... 13—16

COMPOSITION OF THE COMMITTEE

1. Shrimati Jayanthi Natarajan – Chairperson

RAJYA SABHA 2. Dr. Abhishek Manu Singhvi 3. Shri Shantaram Laxman Naik 4. Shri Balavant alias Bal Apte 5. Shri Parshottam Khodabhai Rupala 6. Shri Tiruchi Siva 7. Sardar Tarlochan Singh 8. Shri Parimal Nathwani 9. Shri H.K. Dua 10. Vacant

LOK SABHA 11. Shri Bhajan Lal 12. Shri N.S.V. Chitthan 13. Shrimati Deepa Dasmunsi 14. Shrimati Jyoti Dhurve 15. Shri D.B. Chandre Gowda 16. Dr. Monazir Hassan 17. Shri Syed Shahnawaz Hussain 18. Shrimati Chandresh Kumari 19. Shri Lalu Prasad 20. Dr. Kirodi Lal Meena 21. Kumari Meenakshi Natrajan 22. Shri Devji M. Patel 23. Shri Harin Pathak 24. Shri S. Semmalai 25. Shri Shailendra Kumar 26. Shri Vijay Bahadur Singh 27. Dr. (Shrimati) Prabha Kishor Taviad 28. Shri Manish Tewari 29. Shri R. Thamaraiselvan 30. Adv. P.T. Thomas (Idukki) 31. Vacant

(i) (ii)

SECRETARIAT Shri Deepak Goyal, Joint Secretary Shri K.P. Singh, Director Shri K.N. Earendra Kumar, Joint Director Shrimati Niangkhannem Guite, Assistant Director Shrimati Catherine John L., Committee Officer INTRODUCTION

I, the Chairperson of the Department related Parliamentary Standing Committee on Personnel, Public Grievances, Law and Justice, having been authorized by the Committee to present the Report on its behalf, do hereby present this Forty First Report on Action Taken by Government on the recommendations/observations contained in the Twenty-third Report of this Committee on “Government Policy of Appointment on Compassionate Ground”.

2. The Twenty-third Report of the Department related Parliamentary Standing Committee on Personnel, Public Grievances, Law and Justice was presented to Rajya Sabha and laid on the Table of Lok Sabha on 7th September, 2007.

3. The Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions furnished the Action Taken Replies on the Report on 7th December, 2009. Statement regarding status of implementation of recommendations contained in the Twenty-third Report of the Committee has also been made by the Minister of State for Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions in the Rajya Sabha on 25th February, 2010.

4. The Committee considered the draft Report and adopted the same at its meeting held on 29th July, 2010.

5. For the facility of reference and convenience, the observations and recommendations of the Committee on the Action Taken Replies have been printed in bold letters in the body of the Report.

JAYANTHI NATARAJAN New Delhi; Chairperson, 29th July, 2010 Committee on Personnel, Public Grievances, Law and Justice.

(iii)

REPORT

The Action Taken Report of the Committee deals with the action taken by the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions on the recommendations/observations of the Department Related Parliamentary Standing Committee on Personnel, Public Grievances, Law and Justice in its 23rd Report on “Government Policy of Appointment on Compassionate Ground”. The Report was presented to Rajya Sabha and laid on the Table of Lok Sabha on 7th September, 2007.

2. The Action Taken Replies have been received from the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions in respect of the recommendations contained in the above mentioned Report. These replies have been categorised as follows:

Chapter–I – The recommendations/observations which have been accepted by the Ministry in respect of para 6.4 and 6.5. The Committee is pleased to note that the Ministry has accepted its recommendations as mentioned in Chapter–I of the Report.

Chapter–II – The recommendations/observations which the Committee does not desire to pursue for now in view of the replies given by the Ministry in respect of paras 7.2, 8.1, 8.8, 9.5, 9.6 and 9.7. The Committee is convinced with the explanations advanced by the Ministry and does not want to pursue them as of now.

Chapter–III – The recommendations/observations in respect of which Committee has not accepted replies given by the Ministry with regard to paras 8.10, 9.2 and 9.3, The Committee expresses its concern for not accepting the recommendations of the Committee contained in Chapter–III of this Report and desires that the Ministry should furnish logical explanations in respect of these recommendations.

Chapter–IV – The recommendations/observations in respect of which final replies of the Ministry have not been received with regard to paras 9.4. The Committee observes that the Ministry has furnished evasive or interim replies and therefore desires that the Ministry should furnish action taken notes in respect of recommendations categorised in Chapter–IV.

3. The recommendations/observations of the Committee in its 23rd Report, the ATRs furnished by the Ministry, statement made by the Minister on House in the implementation of the Committee’s recommendations, if any, and the Committee’s further recommendations/observations have been dealt with in the succeeding Chapters. 2

CHAPTER–I

RECOMMENDATIONS/OBSERVATIONS WHICH HAVE BEEN ACCEPTED BY THE MINISTRY

Recommendation/observation

The Committee appreciates that the views expressed by the Committee in its previous study visits regarding revival of compassionate appointments in public sector banks at least in those cases where the official died while performing official duty has resulted in modifying the model scheme of compassionate appointments in the public sector banks. The Committee, therefore, recommends that Government of India should accept this revised proposal of IBA and start ‘compassionate appointments’ in public sector banks with immediate effect. The Committee feels this act of the Government would certainly help the family of deceased Banks employee to tide over sudden crisis. [Para 6.4]

However, the Committee strongly feels that the judgment given/delivered by the Hon’ble Supreme Court in the Shri Umesh Kumar Nagpal Vs. State of Haryana and Others doesn’t totally ban the employment on compassionate grounds rather it has been misquoted, misinterpreted and misunderstood that the Hon’ble Court has totally banned the compassionate employments. The Committee feels that Government should not put a blanket ban on providing compassionate appointment to the family members of the deceased employees in the public sector banks rather should find ways and means for giving employment under compassionate grounds in view of shrinking employment opportunities in the banking sector. The Committee, therefore, recommends that Government should not totally ban the appointments on compassionate grounds in the banking sector rather think of providing compassionate appointments to the family members of the deceased. For this, the power to appoint on compassionate grounds may be conferred on the CMDs of public sector banks so as to enable them to give appointments to well deserved cases alone. [Para 6.5]

Action Taken Reply

Department of Financial Services have adduced their views that: with the approval of the Government, the Indian Banks’ Association (IBA) circulated the revised scheme to all Public Sector Banks (PSBs) vide their letter No. PD/GSN/GOVT/532/185 dated 19.7.2007 amending the then existing scheme by dividing it into two parts; the first relating to compassionate appointment in exceptional cases and the second to ex-gratia payment. They have further added that the board of the bank, however, reserves its right to substitute, amend or vary from time to time any provision of the Scheme.

The above mentioned arrangement of issuing policy guidelines by IBA for banking sector is to ensure the functional autonomy of the financial institutions for augmenting operational efficiency of the organizations.

2 3

CHAPTER–II

RECOMMENDATIONS/OBSERVATIONS WHICH THE COMMITTEE DOES NOT DESIRE TO PURSUE IN VIEW OF THE REPLIES GIVEN BY THE MINISTRY

Recommendation/observation

The Committee was not satisfied by the reply. The Committee feels that in the hour of crisis each and every member of the family stands together to support the family and try to overcome the problems that come their way and in this case, the bank instead of extending a helping hand quoted some rules and simply rejected the application. The Committee feels that such type of incidences are unwarranted, speaks volumes about the policy of a particular bank when our effort should be in the direction of building relationship of trust, help, loyalty etc. The Committee desires that in such cases a realistic and humanitarian view should be taken by the concerned authorities. [Para 7.2]

Action Taken Reply

The Department of Financial Services have also stated with reference to para 7.2 that the revised scheme provides for compassionate appointment/grant of ex-gratia to the family of deceased employees in a certain manner and subject to specified ceilings, i.e. the monthly income of the family from all sources should be less than 60% of last drawn salary (net of taxes) of the employee. This meets the recommendation of the Committee.

Committee’s further observation

The Committee takes note of the reply.

Recommendation/Observation The Committee observes that the Public Sector Undertakings and other organizations/Trusts etc. examined by the Committee are having separate schemes for the benefit of their employees. Some of them were following the policy of making ex-gratia payment to the family of the deceased and some were continuing with the policy of appointment on compassionate grounds. The Public Sector Undertakings which are following the policy of appointment on compassionate grounds are GAIL(India) Limited, STC Limited, Container Corporation of India Limited, Bharat Dynamics Limited, Neyveli Lignite Corporation Limited, Cochin Port Trust, Bharat Petroleum, Chennai Port Trust, Chennai Petroleum Corporation etc. [Para 8.1]

Action Taken Reply

Department of Public Enterprises vide their letter No. 2(63)07--DPE(GM) dated 11th March, 2008 has expressed that Vittal Committee has reviewed the guidelines issued by them in the matter of compassionate appointment. CPSEs were given autonomy to frame their own guidelines on compassionate appointment keeping in view their operational/business requirements.

3 4

Committee’s further observation

The Committee takes note of the Reply.

Recommendation/observation

The Committee feels that though death of the ‘Karta’ of a family can never be compensated but family can be consoled by offering compassionate appointment or financial package to support the family. The Committee, therefore, recommends that the Government of India should positively think towards revival of the policy of appointments on compassionate ground in the PSUs and other organisations falling within its jurisdiction or the PSUs should introduce a unique scheme of ‘full salary till superannuation of the deceased employee’ uniformly so that the bereaved family could tide over the crisis created by the cruel hands of destiny. [Para 8.8]

Action Taken Reply

Committee’s further observation The Committee takes note of the Reply.

Recommendation/observation

Finally, the Committee feels that in a welfare state like ours it is obligatory on the part of the Government to provide a social security net to the employees and appointments on compassionate ground is one such measure. It gives a sense of being part and parcel of the organisation amongst its employees who feels that in case of falling victim at the hands of cruel destiny the organisation will take care of their families. The umbrella of protection certainly boosts the morale of not only the employees but also their families. The Committee, therefore, recommends that the policy of compassionate appointments should continue in the Government, its PSUs, organisations, Trusts etc. as a measure of social security net and also consider offering the package on the lines of Chennai Petroleum Corporation Ltd. so that the family of the deceased employee survives the sudden void and crisis created by the cruel destiny. [Para 9.5]

Action Taken Reply

According to Department of Public Enterprises, since the CPSE has to operate commercial activities in the competitive environment and has also to meet social responsibilities this issue should be left with concerned Management of CPSE to frame the Rules as per their operational requirements and also to take care of the interest of the family of the deceased employee.

Department of Expenditure have clarified that consequent upon the implementation of Sixth CPC Recommendation by the Government of India, the various terminal benefits available to the family of the deceased Government employee (leave encashment, family pension, death Gratuity) have undergone an upward revision. The recommendation relating to enhancement of the Insurance 5

Cover is still under the consideration of the Government. Therefore, there appears to be little justification for contemplating further benefits. According to Department of Financial Services, the scheme relating to compassionate appointment has been revised to address to the humanitarian angle as espoused by the various Unions. Keeping in mind the social obligations, the Government has agreed to modify the scheme for payment of ex-gratia/to provide for compassionate appointments in certain exceptional cases; and continuance of payment of ex-gratia amount in other deserving cases to the families of the deceased employees, dying in harness; to help them to survive the sudden void and crises, caused by the cruel destiny.

Committee’s further observation The Committee appreciates that the Government has agreed upon to revise the scheme of Compassionate appointment as per the abovementioned two pronged policy. Also, the Committee takes into account the need of giving autonomy to CPSE’s to frame their own policies vis-a-vis Compassionate appointments/payment of ex-gratia amount to the family of deceased employee in accordance with their commercial requirements. However, the Committee feels that the Chennai Petroleum Corporation Ltd.’s policy of providing compensation package to the family of a deceased employee presently is a model to be followed. Thus, the possibilities of replicating this model may be explored in other PSUs as well.

Recommendation/observation The Committee is perturbed to note that there is lack of uniformity in the rules/ standing orders/guidelines, formulated till date, by various organizations/Departments, which govern the policy of appointment on compassionate ground. It notes that lack of clarity/ precision is a major handicap in implementing the scheme in its true letter and spirit. It is of the view that this has been the main reason for various conflicting judgements by the Courts. The Committee strongly feels that common standards eligibility criteria should be made applicable for such appointments. It is also of the view that recurrent judgements by the Courts can be avoided if a uniform and transparent policy is envisaged in all the Organisations/ Ministries/Departments. It is of the considered opinion that giving this policy statutory backing would rectify the anomalies which exist at present in this regard. [Para 9.6]

Action Taken Reply

The Department of Public Enterprises have expressed that the problems of CPSE vary from one CPSE to another. Uniform policy for CPSEs in the matter of appointment on compassionate grounds may take away the flexibility available to CPSEs. The existing policy instructions issued by DoPT are conceptually very clear and the eligibility criteria have been spelt out in unambiguous terms. These are also being implemented uniformly by the Ministries/Departments. According to Department of Financial Services, the scheme formulated and circulated by the Indian Banks’ Association to all the public sector banks, ensures the uniform application of the appointment on compassionate grounds or ex-gratia in lieu thereof.

Committee’s further observation The Committee takes note of the reply. 6

Recommendation/observation

In view of the above, the Committee unanimously recommends that concrete steps should be taken to enact a comprehensive legislation which would govern the policy of appointment on compassionate ground. The Committee feels that such legislation would render clarity to the eligibility criteria under this scheme and would make it obligatory on the part of Ministries/Departments/Organisations to implement this beneficial policy. [Para 9.7]

Action Taken Reply

The existing policy is contained in executive instructions which clearly define the eligibility criteria. Compassionate appointment being a welfare measure of the Government, the same should operate through executive instructions and it is felt that there is no need for legislation, at least at this stage.

Committee’s further observation

The Committee takes note of the reply. 7

CHAPTER–III

RECOMMENDATIONS/OBSERVATIONS WHICH HAVE NOT BEEN ACCEPTED BY THE MINISTRY

Recommendation/observation

The Committee does not find the views of Secretary convincing and feels that the Ministry of Personnel is passing on its responsibility to Department of Public Enterprises (DPE). The Committee strongly feels that it is the policy of the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions and it is obligatory for the Ministry to ensure its implementation in toto in not only all the Ministries/Departments of Government of India, but also in the organizations falling within their administrative control. The role of DPE in the case of PSUs and the Banking Division in the case of Banks is to regulate and implement the policy as laid down by the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions. The Committee, however, acknowledges that the policy may vary keeping in view the specific nature of the organisations. What Committee proposes is the mechanism to monitor the policy at both levels i.e., at the level of DPE or Banking Division and also at the level of Ministry of Personnel. [Para 8.10]

Action Taken Reply

According to Department of Public Enterprises, after the liberalization of the Indian economy, Govt. has given more autonomy to CPSEs. The operational requirements vary from CPSE to CPSE. Therefore, CPSE take decision about meeting their operational requirements as well as their corporate social obligations. Under the Allocation of Business Rules, the DoPT has been assigned the task of laying down, inter alia, the general questions relating to recruitment, promotion and seniority pertaining to Central Services.

Department of Financial Services monitors the policy through the Indian Banks’ Association (IBA). The recommendations made by IBA are given due consideration.

Committee’s further observation

The Committee acknowledges the need of providing functional and financial autonomy to the PSEs in the era of economic liberalization. However, the Committee would like to draw the attention of the Department to the fact that despite adopting the path of economic liberalization, our nation still has a strong faith in the philosophy of Welfare State, thereby endeavoring to provide the required social security net for the people belonging to the lower income group. The policy of appointment on compassionate ground for group ‘C’ and ‘D’ employees is one of such measures. Needless to say, this group of Government employees generally belongs to the lower income group of the society. What the Committee favors in this regard is a balancing act to fulfill the obligations of economic liberalization as well as the

7 8 commitments of a Welfare State.

Thus despite being in agreement with the logic of functional and financial autonomy to the PSEs, the Committee finds that existing anomalies in such organizations regarding the Policy of Appointment on the Compassionate Grounds need to be monitored at various level, if any. To this end, the Committee reiterates that the Department has been entrusted to oversee the implementation of the Policy of Appointment on the Compassionate Ground in various Departments and PSUs.

Recommendation/observation

The Committee has also come across certain representations wherein it has been mentioned that at the time of the death of the breadwinner the wife was uneducated/not able to take up the job and the deceased has left small children where the 3 years criteria to fill up the said vacancy cannot be applied. The Committee feels that such type of situation can come in anybody’s life wherein the 3 year rule cannot be applied, hence such type of cases should be dealt with separately. The Committee recommends that if the Government really intends to help the family of the deceased employee then the Government should come forward with certain changes in its policy on appointments on compassionate ground like waiving of all outstanding loans, free health expenditure, free education to the children till they attain the age of majority, family pension, housing facilities etc. for the family of the deceased. [Para 9.2]

Action Taken Reply

Para 8 of the scheme on compassionate appointment issued on 9.10.1998 contains the provision of entertaining belated requests for compassionate appointment even where the death took place long back, say 5 years or so. Ministry of Urban Development have adduced their views that due to acute shortage of Government accommodation, it would not be possible to allow the family of the deceased Government employee to retain the accommodation till the notional date of superannuation. In all such cases the family should be provided adequate financial assistance to own a house. Department of Expenditure has not supported the benefits recommended as they involve huge expenditure on the part of Central Govt. Ministry of Health has also conveyed that CS(MA) Rules 1944 do not permit such an arrangement.

Committee’s further observation

Though the Committee does not negate the fact that there is shortage of Government accommodations, this argument can not be considered sufficiently tenable if it supports the act of throwing the family of a deceased employee out of the Government accommodation to address the prevailing shortfall.

The Committee finds it is righteous that the bereaved families of a deceased employee need extra attention and care. If there is shortage of Government accommodations the concerned Department may explore other ways to meet the challenge. Throwing the family of a deceased employee out of the Government accommodation is not the only left solution. However, the Committee does not advocate the facility to be applied uniformly, an objective criterion to identify the deserving candidates may be preferred in this regard. 9

Recommendation/observation

The Committee finds that the Guidelines/circulars issued in this regard by the Government of India are actually not adhered to in true spirit and in many cases some PSUs are not even aware of any such new guidelines etc. The Committee, therefore, recommends that the Guidelines/circulars issued by the Government must be complied with and a feedback must be obtained from each of the administrative Ministries so that a cross check can be in place to see that the instructions issued are followed properly. The Committee also feels that the role of the administrative Ministries under which the particular PSU comes become all the more important and it should pass on each and every instruction issued by the Government of India to the PSUs and receive the confirmation from them and send the feedback to the Government of India. The Committee recommends that this is a continuous process and at least yearly report must be sent to the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions (Department of Personnel and Training) by the administrative Ministries to ensure whether the instructions issued by the Government are complied with and the Ministry of Personnel must also call for a report on the issue per annum. [Para 9.3]

Action Taken Reply

This Department is aware that the instructions being issued are being applied in the case of Central Government civilian employee/posts in all Ministries/Departments on uniform basis.

In pursuance of these recommendations, the Department has collected the relevant information regarding the status of compassionate appointment in the Ministries/Departments.

The Administrative Ministries are required to monitor the state of implementation of compassionate appointment scheme under their jurisdiction and it is not feasible for DOP&T to exercise centralized monitoring and control over the myriad policy guidelines being issued by the Department from time-to-time.

Committee’s further observation

The Committee is constrained to know that the Department is not ready to accept the responsibility of monitoring the implementation of the Policy of Appointment on Compassionate Ground in various Ministries /Departments. Further, the Committee finds that merely collecting the information in an ad-hoc manner regarding the Status of Compassionate Appointment in the Ministries/Departments would not provide for an effective check thereon in this regard. Besides, if the Department feels that the guidelines issued on this subject are too myriad to be effectively monitored then why the efforts should not be made to evolve common standards binding on various Ministries/Department/organizations regarding the Policy of Appointment on Compassionate Ground.

The Committee feels that policy challenges in this regard may be genuine but not insurmountable if the efforts are continued in the right direction. Besides, the Committee observes that information provided by the Department is not updated and covers the period only till 31st March, 2007, therefore not much helpful in deriving a concrete conclusion regarding the subject in the present scenario. 10

However, on the basis of information provided by the Ministry the Committee finds that the main reason behind the pendency regarding compassionate appointment cases is the non- availability of vacancies under Compassionate Appointment Quota that is only five percent of the regular vacancies. In this regard, the Committee feels that it would be difficult to reduce the existing pendency as the regular vacancies meant for the purpose are too less in numbers. The Committee, therefore, opines that special drives to reduce the existing pendency may be initiated by the respective Ministries/Departments. 11

CHAPTER–IV

THE RECOMMENDATIONS/OBSERVATIONS IN RESPECT OF WHICH FINAL REPLIES OF THE MINISTRY HAVE NOT BEEN RECEIVED

Recommendation/observation

The Committee also feels that if the Government’s effort is to help the family of the deceased employee then there must be a separate Cell in each of the Ministries or Departments which will cater to only compassionate appointment cases. The cell should send periodical information on number of vacancies, number of applications received, time taken to dispose of the cases, reasons for not disposing favorably etc. to the head of the Department. The Committee, therefore, recommends that Government should come forward with certain new guidelines in addition to the one which is already in existence for the benefit of the employees like creation of a separate Cell, proper monitoring of its guidelines, gathering of information from the Ministries periodically, compliance report etc [Para 9.4].

Action Taken Reply

Smaller Departments do not require a separate cell. It may be left to the Ministries to decide whether there is a need for creation of a separate cell. A circular is being issued advising the Ministries/Departments on these lines after completion of necessary formalities.

Committee’s further observation

The Committee appreciates that a circular regarding creation of separate cells in each Departments/Ministries is being issued by the Government on the lines of recommendations of the Committee. In fact, the raison d’etre behind this recommendation was to ensure the specific attention of the respective Departments towards the issue of appointment on compassionate ground. The Committee, therefore, feels that apart from issuing circulars there is need to continuously prod the Ministries/ Department into ensuring their specific attention on the abovementioned subject. In this context, the Committee would like to be apprised of the feedback of the Departments/Ministries over the issue of creation of the separate cell to cater to the cases of compassionate appointment cases.

MINUTES

XVI SIXTEENTH MEETING

The Department Related Parliamentary Standing Committee on Personnel, Public Grievances, Law and Justice met at 3.00 P.M. on Thursday, the 29th July, 2010 in Room No. ‘63’, Parliament House, New Delhi.

MEMBERS PRESENT 1. Shrimati Jayanthi Natarajan — Chairperson

RAJYA SABHA 2. Shri Shantaram Laxman Naik 3. Shri Tiruchi Siva 4. Sardar Tarlochan Singh 5. Shri H.K. Dua

LOK SABHA 6. Shri Bhajan Lal 7. Dr. Kirodi Lal Meena 8. Kumari Meenakshi Natrajan 9. Shri S. Semmalai 10. Shri Shailendra Kumar 11. Shri Vijay Bahadur Singh 12. Dr. (Shrimati) Prabha Kishor Taviad 13. Shri Manish Tewari 14. Shri R. Thamaraiselvan 15. Adv. P.T. Thomas (Idukki)

SECRETARIAT Shri Deepak Goyal, Joint Secretary Shri K.P. Singh, Director Shri K.N. Earendra Kumar, Joint Director Shrimati Catherine John L., Committee Officer

2. The Chairperson made an obituary reference to the sad demise of Shri Virendra Bhatia, who was the Member of the Committee. The Committee observed a minutes’ silence as a mark of respect to the departed soul.

15 16

3. Thereafter, the Committee considered and adopted its draft 40th and 41st Reports on (i)* * *; and (ii) Action Taken Replies of the Government on the recommendations/observations contained in the 23rd Report of the Committee on “Government’s Policy of Appointment on Compassionate Ground” respectively. The Committee authorised Shri Shantaram Laxman Naik and in his absence, Shri Tiruchi Siva to present both the reports in Rajya Sabha and Shri Manish Tewari and in his absence, Shri Shailendra Kumar to lay the said reports in Lok Sabha on Wednesday, the 4th August, 2010

4. * * *

5. The Committee adjourned at 3.40 P.M.

*** Relate to some other matters. Printed at : Bengal Offset Works, 335, Khajoor Road, Karol Bagh, New Delhi-110005.