The government is considering extending the tenure of parliamentary standing committees by two years from the current one year, reported several media outlets. The current committees' terms are set to expire on September 26.
The move is in line with the opposition's suggestion to hike the tenure to ensure that the bills and policy matters are scrutinised more thoroughly and in depth, reports said.
This move holds political significance since it would provide a big boost to Congress MP Shahi Tharoor amid his alleged differences with his party.
Tharoor was appointed as the chairman of the standing committee on foreign affairs on September 26 last year. This extension would allow him to remain the chairman for two more years.
Standing committees are permanent bodies made up of MPs from both the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha. They are key in examining government bills, reviewing policies, and holding ministries accountable. Presently reconstituted annually, some MPs, including those from the opposition, have pressed for longer tenures, arguing that one year is insufficient for thorough work.
When Parliament is not in session, standing committees function like “mini-parliaments,” giving MPs the space to scrutinise policies and legislation in detail. At present, these panels are reconstituted annually, but many MPs, including those from the opposition, have pushed for extending their tenure to at least two years. They argue that a one-year term does not allow enough time for in-depth studies on complex subjects.
Under the proposed change, while the leadership of committees is expected to remain largely unchanged, the tenure of newly nominated members could be doubled. This would provide greater continuity, allowing panels to focus more effectively on legislative and policy matters.
Since members are chosen by their political parties, the move is expected to carry both administrative and political significance, shaping the way Parliament functions in the years ahead.
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