Question 50 from UPSC CSE 2024 - Current Affairs (Polity & Governan ce)

Question

Which of the following statements about the Ethics Committee in the Lok Sabha are correct?
1. Initially it was an ad-hoc Committee.
2. Only a Member of the Lok Sabha can make a complaint relating to unethical conduct of a member of the Lok Sabha.
3. This Committee cannot take up any matter which is sub-judice.
Select the correct answer using the code given below:

IASCODEX · Accepted Answer

Correct Option: C. 1 and 3 only

Strategy: Focus on the committee's evolution. Statement 1 refers to its initial ad-hoc status, which matches parliamentary history. Statement 2 claims that only a Lok Sabha member can make a complaint; this is inaccurate because even outsiders can complain via an MP, so this statement can be ruled out. Statement 3 says the committee avoids sub-judice matters, which is an established norm for parliamentary committees. Thus, statements 1 and 3 are correct.

Key Info: ## Lok Sabha Ethics Committee

The Ethics Committee of the Lok Sabha oversees the moral and ethical conduct of its members.

### Origin and Evolution
The idea was catalyzed by a 1996 Presiding Officers Conference. The first Ethics Committee in Parliament was formed in the Rajya Sabha in 1997. In the Lok Sabha, an ad-hoc Ethics Committee was constituted in 2000, following the recommendation of the Committee of Privileges. It became a permanent body in 2015.

### Composition
The committee consists of members of the Lok Sabha, with the Speaker nominating the chairperson and members.

### Complaint Procedure
Complaints of unethical conduct against Lok Sabha members can be made by anyone, provided they route the complaint through a Lok Sabha MP. The complainant must provide supporting evidence and an affidavit indicating that the complaint is not false or frivolous. If a Lok Sabha member is themselves the complainant, an affidavit is not necessary. Complaints can also be referred by the Speaker directly to the committee.

### Sub-judice Matters
The committee is barred from taking up matters that are sub-judice (currently under judicial consideration), maintaining the separation between the judiciary and legislature. It also avoids acting on cases based only on media reports.

### Function
The Ethics Committee conducts a prima facie inquiry and, if warranted, a deeper investigation, culminating in recommendations to the House. The rules applied are largely derived by analogy from those governing the Committee of Privileges.

Committees like this one are modeled after global parliamentary practices seen in nations such as the UK, US, and Australia.

IASCODEX · Answer

Option A: 1 and 2 only

IASCODEX · Answer

Option B: 2 and 3 only

IASCODEX · Answer

Option D: 1, 2, and 3