Why in news?
Rajya Sabha Chairman has urged political parties to evolve a consensus on the code of conduct for members of legislatures.
What is the present state of Code of Conducts?
- A Code of Conduct for members of Rajya Sabha has been in force since 2005.
- However, there is no such code for the Lok Sabha.
- A code for Union ministers was adopted in 1964, and state governments were advised to adopt it as well.
- A conference of Chief Justices in 1999 resolved to adopt a code of conduct for judges of the Supreme Court and High Courts.
- The 15-point ‘Re-instatement of Values in Judicial Life’ was adopted.
- It recommended that serving judges should maintain an air of “aloofness” in their official and personal lives.
What is the case with Rajya Sabha?
- The first step was the constitution of Parliamentary Standing Committees on Ethics in both Houses.
- The Committee came into place in Rajya Sabha in 1997.
- It was to oversee the moral and ethical conduct of the Members.
- It was also tasked to examine the cases referred to it with reference to ethical and other misconduct of Members.
- The First Report of the Ethics Committee was adopted in 1999 and its framework was reiterated in subsequent reports.
- The Fourth Report was adopted by Rajya Sabha in 2005.
- A 14-point Code of Conduct for members of the House has been in force since then.
- These include the following:
- In case of conflict between personal interests and public trust, members should resolve it, with private interests subordinated to the duty of public office.
- Members should ensure that their and members of their immediate family's private financial interests do not come in conflict with the public interest
- In case of any such conflict, it must be resolved without compromising the public interest.
- Members should never expect or accept any fee, remuneration or benefit for a vote given or not given by them on the floor of the House. This would apply to
- introducing a Bill
- moving a resolution or desisting from moving a resolution
- putting a question or abstaining from asking a question
- participating in the deliberations of the House or a Parliamentary Committee
- Besides, the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in the Council of States specifies some provisions.
- It mandates maintaining a ‘Register of Member’s Interests’ in such form as may be determined by the Ethics Committee.
- This shall be available to members for inspection on request.
- This is also accessible to ordinary citizens under the RTI Act.
What is the Code in Lok Sabha?
- The first Ethics Committee in Lok Sabha was constituted only in 2000.
- The issue has been raised in every Lok Sabha since then, but has not been taken to its conclusion.
- The Report of the Ethics Committee was presented to the Speaker in 2014.
- It related to the amendments to the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in Lok Sabha.
- Its recommendations were included in the report of the Rules Committee of Lok Sabha.
- It said that the Ethics Committee shall formulate a Code of Conduct for Members.
- Also, the committee shall suggest amendments or additions to the Code of Conduct from time to time.
- The matter has since been pending with the Ethics Committee.
- The Rules Committee report also recommended that the Ethics Committee make suggestions on
- the nature of Members’ interests to be declared
- the form of Register of Members’ interest to be maintained for Members of Lok Sabha
- This matter, too, is under consideration of the Ethics Committee.
Source: Indian Express