Ethics and Parliamentary Conduct

An MP from All India Trinamool Congress, recently faced allegations of unethical conduct. It was claimed that she took money to raise specific questions in Parliament, benefiting a businessman.
Later, the Speaker referred the matter to the Lok Sabha Ethics Committee for examination.

Consequences of Taking Money

· If an MP accepts money for raising questions in Parliament, it’s seen as a breach of privilege and contempt.

· Typically, such allegations are examined by the Committee of Privileges and if proven guilty, an MP could be expelled.

Lok Sabha Ethics Committee

It was formed in 2000 to address complaints related to unethical conduct of MPs and formulate a code of conduct.
However, the term ‘unethical conduct’ remains undefined, giving the committee discretion in its interpretation.

Historical Precedents:

· 1951 Case: H.G. Mudgal faced similar accusations. Although found guilty, he resigned before potential expulsion.

· 2005 Sting Operation: 10 MPs were exposed for taking money. All were subsequently expelled.

Previous Verdicts by the Ethics Committee

Impersonation Case: An MP misrepresented a female companion as his wife during an official trip, which led to suspension from sittings and a ban on bringing companions.
Parking Label Misuse: An MP misused a parking label but apologized, leading to case closure.
Passport Misuse: A grave misconduct where an MP misused passport. A special inquiry recommended expulsion.

Jurisdiction and Limitations

Unlike judicial probes, which are grounded in laws and rules, parliamentary inquiries are less rigid.
Critics argue that severe misconduct cases should be under the Committee of Privileges or special committees, and not the Ethics Committee.
Further, the Parliament doesn’t investigate criminal offences; that’s the domain of investigative agencies.
Beyond parliamentary actions, MPs can face legal trials, as evidenced by the 10 MPs from the 2005 sting.

Concerns over Online Question Submission

· Lok Sabha hasn’t set clear rules for online question submission.

· MPs often share login details with assistants due to their busy schedules.

· Under Article 105 of the Constitution, MPs can source information freely for their parliamentary tasks, without revealing their sources.

AMIGOS IAS