Parliament Logjam

Recently, Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) became the focal point in the parliament sessions. The issue started with Opposition parties demanding for JPC probe in 2G spectrum allocation, which led to loss of Rs. 1.76 crores to Government(as per CAG report). However, Government insists that JPC probe is not necessary, since PAC (Public Accounts Committee) is looking into the matter. These different stands resulted in 23-day parliament logjam.

PAC was established in 1921 by British rulers, which subsequently continued after independence. PAC consists of 22 members (15 from Lower House and 7 from Upper House). The members are elected by the Parliament every year from amongst its members according to the principle of proportional representation by means of the single transferable vote. The function of Committee is to examine the annual audit reports of the Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) which are laid before the Parliament by the President. In this function, Committee is assisted by the CAG.

Joint Parliamentary Committee is an ad hoc committee, which is constituted to probe into a specific subject. It consists of members from both houses. The JPC can take oral and written evidence or call for documents in connection with a matter under its consideration. Generally, the proceedings of parliamentary committees are confidential but in case of JPC, it can brief the proceedings to press, considering the 'widespread public interest' in the matter. Until now, four JPC's were constituted. Though, PAC and JPC, both functions are almost similar, the reason for Opposition parties demanding for JPC probe into 2G spectrum matter is to keep the heat on government through continuous reporting of proceedings. However, the Government doesn't want to constitute JPC because new problems will come every time when JPC briefs the press.

The stubborn attitude of Government and Opposition in their respective stances resulted in wastage of Rs171 crores. Interestingly, more than to find out the truth in the 2G spectrum scam, opposition parties are playing political games in order to have the cream out of it. Opposition demanding for JPC is a good move but interrupting the sessions regularly and not discussing other crucial issues in the parliament is not good for parliamentary system. Opposition must have used other methods to pressurize the Government, instead of wasting the precious time of parliament. Government also not acted in a responsible manner when whole winter sessions were completed without opposition parties in both the houses. There should not be any excuse to constitute a JPC, if the Government (especially ministers) is not done any irregularities in 2G spectrum allocations.

By this kind of parliamentary logjam, both the sides i.e. Government and Oppositions are safe for now and the loser is the citizen of India.