Parliament (PART) 3

In case of disqualification on grounds of defection, the matter will be decided by the Speaker or Chairperson of Rajya Sabha as the case may be.

A.K.Gopalan was first leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha. He/she enjoys the rank of a Cabinet Minister. After the split of the Congress in the Fourth Lok Sabha in 1969, Congress (O) leader Ram Subhag Singh was the first person to be officially recognized as the Leader of the Opposition. But this post became legally tena we only after 8 years. For the first time after the Janata Party came to power in the 1977 elections, the Act related to the salary and allowances of the Leader of the Opposition was passed.

Estimates Committee has a role in Budget planning i.e. it has a role before approval of expenditure from Parliament.

Whereas Public Accounts Committee plays its role when actual expenditure has been made i.e., auditing the expenditure.

That is why Public Accounts Committee and Estimates Committee are termed as twin sisters.

• Chairperson: A Lok Sabha MP, traditionally from the Opposition.

Public Accounts Committee (PAC)

• Established in 1921 (oldest parliamentary committee in India).
• Purpose: Audits the revenue and expenditure of the Government of India to ensure public funds are spent efficiently and legally.
• Key functions:
  • Examines the CAG audit report on government expenditure.
  • Ensures money sanctioned by Parliament is spent properly.
  • Investigates financial irregularities, losses, and inefficiencies in government spending.
• Membership:
  • 22 members (15 from Lok Sabha, 7 from Rajya Sabha).
  • Chairperson: A Lok Sabha MP, traditionally from the Opposition.
  • Term: One year.
  • Ministers cannot be members of the PAC.

1. consisting of 30 members who are elected by the Lok Sabha every year from among its members.
2. It analyses the expenditure and revenue estimates of various departments and
3. suggests alternative policies in order to bring about efficiency in economy and administration.

• The Constitution of India requires the Parliament to sit for a minimum of two sessions each year. Article 85(1) of the Constitution says: "The
• President shall from time to time summon each House of Parliament to meet at such time and place as he thinks fit, but six months shall not intervene between its last sitting in last session and the date fixed for its first sitting in the next session."

Om Birla was elected Speaker of the House. As no party holds 10% of the seats of the total strength of Lok Sabha to secure the position of Leader of the Opposition, currently, there is no Leader of the Opposition.

However, Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury is the leader of the Congress in the Lok Sabha, which is the second largest party.

• Each House of Parliament shall have a separate secretarial staff: Provided that nothing in this clause shall be construed as preventing the creation of posts common to both Houses of Parliament.
• Parliament may by law regulate the recruitment, and the conditions of service of persons appointed, to the secretarial staff of either House of Parliament.

• Article 330 of the Indian Constitution provides for reservation of seats for the Scheduled Castes, and
• Article 332 provides for reservation of seats for the Scheduled Tribes.
• The number of seats reserved for SCs and STs in the Lok Sabha and the State Legislative Assemblies is proportional to their population in the respective constituencies.