JOINT PARLIAMENTARY COMMITTEE - POLITY

News: Opposition demands JPC or SC monitored inquiry into Adani row, stalls Parliament

 

What's in the news?

       The Opposition joined hands to demand a probe either by a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC), headed by the Supreme Court or monitored by the Chief Justice of India, into the allegations of fraud and stock manipulation against the Adani Group.

 

Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC):

       A Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) is set up by the Parliament for a special purpose, like for the detailed scrutiny of a subject or Bill.

       It has members from both the Houses and from both the ruling parties and the opposition.

       It is dissolved after its term ends or its task has been completed.

 

Composition:

       A JPC is set up after one House of Parliament has passed a motion and the other has agreed to it.

       Members of the JPC are decided by the Parliament. The number of members can vary – there is no fixed number.

 

Role of JPC:

       The mandate of a JPC depends on the motion constituting it.

       For example, “The terms of reference for the JPC on the stock market scam asked the committee to look into financial irregularities, to fix responsibility on persons and institutions for the scam, to identify regulatory loopholes and also to make suitable recommendations".

       To fulfil its mandate, a JPC can scrutinise documents and summon people for questioning. It then submits a report and makes recommendations to the Government.

 

How powerful is a JPC?

       While the recommendations of a JPC have persuasive value, they are not binding on the Government.

The Government can choose to launch further investigations based on what the JPC has said, but it can’t be forced to do so.