RAJYA SABHA PRACTICE & PROCEDURE SERIES 16 COMMITTEE ON ETHICS COMMITTEES ON ETHICS F. No. RS. 17/5/2005-R & L © RAJYA SABHA SECRETARIAT, NEW DELHI http://parliamentofindia.nic.in http://rajyasabha.nic.in E-mail: [email protected] RAJYA SABHA SECRETARIAT PUBLISHED BY SECRETARY-GENERAL, RAJYA SABHA AND PRINTED NEW DELHI BY MANAGER, GOVERNMENT OF INDIA PRESS, MINTO ROAD, NEW DELHI-110002. PREFACE This booklet seeks to describe, in brief, the procedure and functioning of the Committee on Ethics of Rajya Sabha. It is based on the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in Rajya Sabha, the Members of Rajya Sabha (Declaration of Assets and Liabilities) Rules, 2004, and the Reports submitted by the Committee to the House from time to time. The booklet is intended to serve only as a handy guide for ready reference and the information contained in it is not exhaustive. For full and authentic information, therefore, original sources may be referred to and relied upon. New Delhi DR. YOGENDRA NARAIN February, 2005 Secretary-General insurmountable legal difficulties in attaching/confiscating the properties acquired through mafia activities. COMMITTEE ON ETHICS The Committee presented its report to the Government of India which laid it before both Houses of Parliament Introduction on 1 August, 1995. The report was discussed on 8, 23 Rajya Sabha has always been alive to the ethical and 24 August, 1995 in both the Houses of Parliament. and moral concerns of society. Issues such as corruption During the debate, members expressed their concern in high places, role of black money and other corrupt about the declining standards of behaviour in public life. practices in the elections, have found frequent echoes One of the suggestions offered at that time was about in the House. Members have emphasized the need for the setting up of a Parliamentary Committee on Ethics. taking urgent steps to tackle these problems especially Later, an All-Party Meeting under the chairmanship of by effecting comprehensive electoral reforms. the then Union Home Minister, late Shri S.B. Chavan, was convened the same year to look into the views The Government of India appointed in July, 1993 a expressed and suggestions made by the members in high level Committee headed by Shri N. N. Vohra, the both the Houses. One of the major outcomes of the then Home Secretary, Government of India to take stock meeting was the proposal for setting up of a of all available information about the activities of crime Parliamentary Committee on Ethics. syndicates/mafia organisations who allegedly had developed links with and were being protected by some Constitution of Ethics Committee in Rajya Sabha Government functionaries and political personalities. The Committee in its report pointed out, inter alia, towards a The above suggestion was considered by the General nexus between the criminal gangs, police, bureaucracy Purposes Committee of Rajya Sabha in 1997, which and politicians in various parts of the country. It felt that decided to have a Committee in regard to the conduct the existing criminal justice system, which was of the members of Rajya Sabha as internal self- essentially designed to deal with individual offences and regulatory mechanism of the Council itself. The crimes, was unable to deal with the activities of mafia. Committee authorized the Chairman, Rajya Sabha to The provisions of law in regard to economic offences constitute the Ethics Committee consisting of members were also found to be weak and there were of Rajya Sabha. 1 2 Accordingly, the Ethics Committee of Rajya Sabha (iii) In their dealings if Members find that there is a consisting of nine members was constituted by the conflict between their personal interests and Chairman, Rajya Sabha on 4 March, 1997, to oversee the public trust which they hold, they should the moral and ethical conduct of the members and to resolve such a conflict in a manner that their examine the cases referred to it with reference to the private interests are subordinated to the duty of ethical and other misconduct by members. It was, in their public office. fact, the first such Committee to be set up by any legislature in India. Subsequently, the strength of the (iv) Members should never expect or accept any Committee was raised to ten members. fee, remuneration or benefit for a vote given or Members of the Committee including its Chairman, not given by them on the floor of the House, for are nominated by the Chairman, Rajya Sabha and they introducing a Bill, for moving a resolution or are generally leaders/deputy leaders/whips of their parties desisting from moving a resolution, putting a in the Rajya Sabha. question or abstaining from asking a question or participating in the deliberations of the House Reports of the Committee or a Parliamentary Committee. The Committee has presented three reports to Rajya (v) Members holding public offices should use Sabha so far. In its First Report presented to Rajya Sabha on 8 December 1998, the Committee, keeping in view public resources in such a manner as may lead the special needs and circumstances which prevailed to public good. in Indian context, recommended a ‘Framework of a Code (vi) If Members are in possession of a confidential of Conduct’ which prescribes certain do’s and don’ts for information owing to their being Members of the members of Rajya Sabha. It inter alia include: Parliament or Members of Parliamentary (i) Members must not do anything that brings Committees, they should not disclose such disrepute to the Parliament and affects their information for advancing their personal credibility. interests. (ii) Members must utilise their position as Members of Parliament to advance general well- (vii) Members should not misuse the facilities and being of the people. amenities made available to them. 3 4 (viii) Members should not be disrespectful to any certain standard norms of behaviour which everyone religion and work for the promotion of secular intending to enter a legislature would be expected to values. follow. The Committee also emphasized the role of political parties in the electoral process and called upon (ix) Members are expected to maintain high the people not to elect persons with “dubious distinction” standards of morality, dignity, decency and to legislative bodies. It emphasized the urgency to bring values in public life. about the much desired though delayed electoral Having laid down a general Framework of a Code of reforms for cleansing public life. Conduct for members of Rajya Sabha, the Committee The Committee expressed its serious concern over felt the need for providing a procedure for enforcing the the increasing trend of disorderly proceedings in code as well as dealing with cases of ethical misconduct legislatures. It called upon the Government as well as by members. In its Second Report presented to Rajya the Opposition to be aware of their joint responsibility to Sabha on 13 December, 1999, the Committee, therefore, the people of this country to ensure that proceedings in recommended the procedure for making a complaint to the Council are conducted uninterruptedly, in accordance the Committee, the mechanism for investigation of a with the rules, established procedures and conventions complaint and the question of providing penalties for a of the Council. The Report was adopted by the House proved unethical conduct or for violating the Code. Rajya on 9 December, 2003. Sabha discussed and adopted the first and the second The Committee in its Fourth Report presented to reports of the Committee on 15 December 1999. Rajya Sabha on 14 March, 2005, has recommended In its Third Report presented to Rajya Sabha on five pecuniary interests pertaining to which information 12 August, 2002, the Committee dealt with issues may be furnished by Members for Registration of germane to the behaviour of members in the Council as Interests in the Register of Members’ Interests as well as outside it. The Committee reiterated that a holistic provided in Rule 293 of the Rules of Procedure. These view had to be taken while dealing with the issues relating five pecuniary interests would be: remunerative to decline in standards of behaviour of the members directorship; regular remunerated activity; shareholding and that ethical questions could not be dealt with by of controlling nature; paid consultancy; and professional legislation alone. The Committee, however, felt that the engagement. The Report of the Committee was adopted Code, like in some other Parliaments, could help evolve by the House on 20 April, 2005. 5 6 Rules relating to Committee on Ethics (b) to prepare a Code of Conduct for members and to suggest amendments or additions to the Rules relating to the Committee on Ethics came into Code from time to time in the form of reports to force w.e.f. 20 July, 2004. Rules relating to Declaration the Council; of the Assets and Liabilities under the Representation of the People (Third Amendment) Act, 2002 came into (c) to examine cases concerning the alleged force w.e.f. 5 August, 2004. Rule 292 of the Rules of breach of the Code of Conduct by members as Procedure and Conduct of Business in the Council of also cases concerning allegations of any other States provides the link between the two above ethical misconduct of members; and mentioned Rules. Chapter XXIV consisting of Rules (d) to tender advice to members from time to 286-303 were added to the Rules of Procedure and time on questions involving ethical standards Conduct of Business in the Council of States w.e.f.