APENDIX-XII

(Vide Para 8.2)

GUIDELINES FORMULATED IN APRIL, 1969 TO REGULATE THE CONSTITUTION AND FUNCTIONING OF THE CONSULTATIVE COMMITTEES FOR VARIOUS MINISTRIES AND DEPARTMENTS.

1. The Informal Consultative Committees will henceforth be known as Consultative Committees. These Committees are not, however , comparable to the Standing Committees of Parliament. The deliberations of these Committees would remain informal and no reference to the discussions held in the meetings thereof would be made on the floor of the House.

2. Government will fix the strength of these Committees in consultation with the opposition parties with due regard to the respective strengths of various parties in Parliament. Each party may choose its own nominees to these Committees.

3. The Minister concerned with each Ministry/Department shall preside over the meeting of the Consultative Committee attached to his Ministry. Whenever for exceptional reasons this is not possible, the meeting will either be presided over by the Minister of State of the Ministry or the meeting will be postponed.

4. Notices etc. for Consultative Committee meeting will be issued to the regular Members of the Committee. If any member other than the Member of the Consultative Committee suggests any points for discussion in the meeting of a particular Committee, he may be invited for the meeting subject to the condition that he will not be entitled to any TA/DA for attending such meeting. A regular member will, however, be entitled to TA/DA for attending the meeting held during inter – session period as per prescribed administrative orders.

5. Meetings of the Committees should be normally arranged during session period. It has also been agreed to hold one meeting of each Committee during inter – session period and the date of that meeting may be decided if possible, during the previous meeting. The duration of the meeting should be left to the Chairman depending on the business to be transacted.

6. These meetings would be attended by the senior officers of the Ministries who could assist the Minister in regard to information on specific items on the agenda and provide the Minister with facts and figures. The Committees would not have the right to summon any witness, to send for or demand the production of any files, or to examine any official records. The Chairman of the Committee may , however, furnish any additional information required by members.

7. Brief record of discussion in the meetings on specific matters for which adequate notice has been given, will be circulated to the members. Where there is unanimity of view in the Committee, Government will normally accept the view subject to the following exceptions viz.,

(i) any view having financial implications;

(ii) any view concerning security, Defence, External Affairs and Atomic Energy; and

(iii) any matter falling within the purview of an autonomous corporation.

In case of non – acceptance, reason thereof will be given to the Committee.

8. These Committees would be formed for all the Ministries/Departments.

9. The reconstitution of the Committees will normally be timed with Budget Session.

10. Secretary of the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs will notify the constituion of these Committees.

11. At these Committees, Members of Parliament are free to discuss any matter which can

appropriately be discussed in Parliament. It would not, however, be desirable to refer on the floor of the House to anything which might have taken place in the Consultative Committees. This will be binding on both, the Government and the Members.

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