7. COMMITTEE SECTION (PETITIONS)

Transcription

1 7. COMMITTEE SECTION (PETITIONS) 7.1 Main Functions: This Section deals with the following items of work:- (ii) provides Secretarial assistance to the Committee on Petitions, General Purposes Committee, and such other ad-hoc Committees as may be assigned to this Section from time to time which involves issuance of notices for convening their meetings, preparation of agenda papers/ memoranda/ background notes/ questionnaire/ minutes/ draft reports, etc. for the respective Committees; examination of petitions received for presentation or reporting to the Rajya Sabha in accordance with the provisions contained in Chapter X of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in the Council of States; and (iii) processing of representations received from different quarters and wherever required, forwarding the same to the Ministries/Departments and Chief Secretaries of the States concerned for necessary action. 7.2 Examination of Petitions: The work of the Section in this respect involves examination of the petitions in the context of their admissibility or otherwise under the Rules after obtaining comments/factual information from the concerned Ministries/Departments of the Central Government thereon. As against fifty one petitions received during the year 2015, a total of fifty petitions were found in the proper format during the year Those were examined in terms of the Rules governing their admissibility. However, none of petitions were admitted during the year, Committee on Petitions: - Under Rule 147(1) of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in the Council of States, the Chairman, Rajya Sabha, nominates ten Members to the Committee which holds office until a new Committee is nominated. The Committee was re-constituted on the 15 th September, 2016 with Shri Prabhat Jha as its Chairman. The same Committee continued in office at the end of the calendar year, At the beginning of the year 2016, the following petitions were pending for consideration of the Committee:- S. From whom No. received 1. Shri Avinash Pande, MP, Rajya Sabha. 2. Prof. Raj Kachroo, r/o Gurgaon, Haryana 3. Ms. Sulagna Chattopadhyay, r/o Vasant Kunj, New Delhi. 4. Shri Akshay Rajkhowa, r/o Guwahati, Assam. 5. Ms. Sulagna Chattapadhyay, r/o Vasant Kunj, New Delhi. 6. Shri Gurjit Singh, r/o Patalia, Punjab. Countersigned by Shri Avinash Pande, MP, Rajya Sabha. Subject matter of the petition Petition praying to take immediate steps to control the increasing Non-performing Assets (NPAs) in the Banking Sector. -- Petition praying to development real time forecasting of flood so as to issue timely warning to the affected people. Shri Avanish Rai Khanna, Ex-MP, Rajya Sabha. Smt. Wansuk Syiem, MP, Rajya Sabha Shri Avanish Rai Khanna, Ex-MP, Rajya Sabha. Petition praying to evolve an efficient mechanism to check the exorbitant prices of cardiac stents and other medical devices in the country. Petition praying for improvement and strengthening of Non-Lapsable Central Pool of Resources (NLCPR) Scheme in the North- Eastern Region. Petition praying for solution of the problem arising out of marriage of India women with Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) --- Petition praying for enactment of a separate legislation for offences of Road Rage. 56

2 However, as compared to the previous year (2015) during which the Committee presented one Report. None of report presented to the year, Action Taken Reports: The Committee examined one ATR on Hundred and Forty-six and Hundred and Forty-ninth Report, during the year 2016 and closed examination of the Hundred and Forty-six Report. ATRs on Hundred and Fifty-second Report could not be taken up by the Committee due to paucity of time Meetings and Study visits of the Committee on Petitions: - The Committee held a total number of thirteen sittings during the year The details of the meeting, agenda, time taken, etc. are given below:- Sl. No. Date of Meeting Time Devoted Hrs-Mts Heard the petitioners :- Main Agenda On the petition praying to evolve an efficient mechanism to check the exorbitant prices of cardiac stents and other medical device in the country; and (ii) On the petition praying for improvement and strengthening of Non-Lapsable Central Pool of Resources (NLCPR) Schemes in the North-Easter Region To heard the representatives of Ministry of Overseas Affairs and expert on the petition praying for solution of the problems arising out of marriage of Indian women with Non-Resident Indian (NRIs) Heard representatives of:- Ministry of Earth Sciences on the petition praying for development of capacity to make real time forecasting of floods; and (ii) Ministry of Women Child Development along with the representatives of National Commission for Women on the petition praying for solution of the problems arising out of marriage of Indian women with Non-Resident Indian (NRIs) To decide future programme of the Committee To decide future programme of the Committee Heard the petitioner on the petition praying for enactment of a separate legislation for offences of Road Rage; and (ii) Heard the representatives of Ministry of Home Affairs and the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways on the abovementioned petition Heard the representatives of Ministry of Home Affairs and the Ministry of Law and Justice (Legislative Department) on the petition praying for solution of the problem arising out of marriage of Indian women with Non-Resident Indian (NRIs) Heard the representatives of the Department of Financial Services (Ministry of Finance) on the petition praying to take immediate steps to control the increasing NPAs in (ii) banking sectors; and Heard the petitioner and Ministry of Health and Family Welfare on the complaint against malpractices by Yashoda Hospital, Nalganda X Road, Malakapet, Hyderabad Heard the Deputy Governor, Reserve Bank of India on the petition praying to take immediate steps to control the increasing NPAs in banking sectors Heard the representatives of Private Banks namely, ICICI, HDFC and Axis Bank on the petition praying to take immediate steps to control the increasing NPAs in banking sectors. 57

3 Heard the representatives of HLL Life Care Ltd. a Public Sector Undertaking under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and some experts on the petition praying to evolve an effective mechanism to check the exorbitant prices of cardiac stents and other medical device in the country Reviews the status of pending petitions and to decide its future course of action Heard the representatives of Delhi Police along with the Ministry of Home Affairs on the petition praying for enactment of a separate legislation for offences of Road Rage Study visits of the Committee on Petitions during the year Sl. No. Dates Places Visited Discussions held with Purpose 1. 7 th to 11 th Imphal and Guwahati Interaction with the In connection with the February, 2016 representatives of State Government, Ministry of DONER and other Shri Akshay Rajkhowa stakeholders. praying for improvement and strengthening of Non- Lapsable Central Pool of th May to 2 nd June, 2016 Ooty, Coorg, and Bengaluru (ii) Interaction with representatives of UCO Bank, Regional Bank along with the Department of Financial Services. (iii) Interaction with the representatives of Brahmaputra Board, State Government, regional representatives alongwith Ministries of Water Resources and Earth Sciences. Interaction with the representatives of State Government authorities and other stakeholders. (ii) Interaction with the representatives of State authorities Department of Pharmaceuticals and Department of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India and other stakeholders (iii) Interaction with the 58 Resources (NLCPR) Schemes in the North-Easter Region. (ii) In connection with the Shri Avinash Pande, MP, Rajya Sabha praying to take immediate steps to control the increasing Nonperforming Assets (NPAs) in the Banking Sector. (iii) In connection with the Prof. Raj Kachroo praying to development real time forecasting of flood so as to issue timely warning to the affected people. In connection with the Prof. Raj Kachroo praying to development real time forecasting of flood so as to issue timely warning to the affected people. (ii) In connection with the Ms. Sulagna Chattopadhyay praying to evolve an efficient mechanism to check the exorbitant prices of cardiac stents and other medical devices in the country. (iii) In connection with the

4 Chamber of Commerce and Industries and other stakeholders, and representative State Bank of Mysore, Vijay Bank., Corporation Bank and Syndicate Bank affected by the problem of increasing NPAs (iv) Interaction with the NGOs, State Government authorities and other stakeholders. (v) Interaction with the NGOs, State Government, representatives of Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, Government of India. Shri Avinash Pande, MP, Rajya Sabha praying to take immediate steps to control the increasing Nonperforming Assets (NPAs) in the banking sector. (iv) In connection with the Ms. Sulagna Chattapadhyay praying for solution of the problem arising out of marriage of Indian women with Non-Resident Indians (NRIs). (v) In connection with the Shri Gurjit Singh praying for enactment of a separate legislation for offence of Road Rage Besides attending to the work connected with the meetings of the Committee on Petitions, the Section also handled all correspondence with the Ministries/Departments concerned on various aspects connected with the implementation of the recommendations /observations of the Committee as contained in its Reports presented to the House from time to time General Purposes Committee: - The functions of the Committee are to consider and advice on such matters concerning the affairs of the House as may be referred to it by the Hon ble Chairman, Rajya Sabha from time to time. No fixed number has been laid down for its membership and the Deputy Chairman, Members of the Panel of Vice- Chairmen, Chairmen of all Standing Parliamentary Committees of Rajya Sabha, Leaders of recognized Parties/Groups in the House are nominated to this Committee. The Committee with twenty-nine Members was reconstituted on the 14 th January, Hon ble Chairman nominate/re-nominate Members to fill the vacancies caused due to retirements and resignation of its Members. All the new Members of the Committee were informed about their nominations through letters individually addressed to them Meetings of General Purposes Committee:- The Committee held one sitting and considered five Memorandum during the year Minutes of that meeting were prepared and circulated to all the concerned Divisional Heads. The detail of the meeting is given below:- Sl. No. Date of Meeting Time Devoted Hrs-Mts. 59 Main Agenda Considered following Memorandum:- (ii) Memorandum No. 1: Discussion on sub-judice matters in the House; Memorandum No. 2: Review of Rule 261 of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in the Council of States (Rajya Sabha) relating to expunction of words from

5 (iii) (iv) (v) proceedings in light of live telecast of proceedings of the House; Memorandum No. 3: Wearing of National Flag to display in the form of lapel pin or badge in the House by Members; Memorandum No. 4: Replacement of Sound System including Simultaneous Interpretation, Automatic Vote Recording System and Display for AVR System in Rajya Sabha Chamber; and Memorandum No. 5: Adjournment of the House on the death of Sitting Members/Ministers/former Prime Ministers etc Preparation of Paragraphs for inclusion in the Journal of Parliamentary Information: Paragraphs for inclusion in the Journal of Parliamentary Information containing information about the work transacted by the Committees, namely, the Committee on Petitions, the General Purposes Committee were prepared and sent from time to time to the Research & Library Section for incorporation in the Journal being issued quarterly Representations received from various individuals/organizations: As against seven hundred and sixty five representations received during the last year, six hundred and forty five representations on various subjects addressed to the Hon'ble Chairman, Rajya Sabha/Chairman, Committee on Petitions/Secretary-General, Rajya Sabha, were received from different quarters during the year All such representations were examined in the Section and in appropriate cases copies thereof were sent to the concerned Ministries/Departments and concerned State Governments for appropriate action. Replies received from the Ministry/Department on these representations were also sent to the representationist in most of the cases. 7.8 Information under the Right to information Act, 2005: During the year 2016, Central Public Information Officer (CPIO), Rajya Sabha Secretariat had forwarded a total of 40 applications seeking information under the Right to Information Act, These applications were processed under the rules and their replies were sent to RTI Cell Settlement of Refreshment Bills: Fifty seven bills received from the Assistant Commercial Officer (Catering), Northern Railway, Tea Board, Coffee Board, Parliament House Complex in respect of refreshment served in the meetings of the Committees and in the office of Chairman, Committee on Petitions, were processed and sent for payment to the Establishment (Accounts) and Budget Section Settlement of TA/DA Bills of none official witnesses/petitioners: During the year 2016, three TA/DA Bills of non official witnesses/petitioner, who appeared before the Committee, has been settled by the Committee Section Budgetary Allocation: This Section was allocated a sum of Rs. 50,000/- in the Budgetary grant for the Financial Year under the Head Other Administrative Expenses ( )" out of which Rs. 31,882/- was utilized for settlement of Bills in respect of refreshments served in the meetings of the Committees till 31 st December, An amount of Rs.14,00,000/- was sanctioned for Study tour Budget (Member-Domestic travel Expenses) and Rs.3,00,000/- was sanctioned for study tour Budget (Member-Office Expenses) for the financial year out of which Rs. 4,31,728/- was utilized in the period of 1st January to 31st December,

6 7.12. Status of Computerization: This Section has been provided with Five Desktop computers, which were extensively used for disposing of various items of work assigned to the Section. All computers have been linked with Local Area Network and internet facilities. The Section is regularly feeding and updating the data in the Committee Software and uploaded Reports to the Rajya Sabha Website. and SMS facilities were used to inform the Members about the meetings and study visits of the Committee. Computerized diary of the receipt has also been done in the Section receipts were diarized in the year Training: None of the officials of the Section was deputed for training during the year, Inspection of the Section during the year: The Annual Office Inspection of the Section for the year 2013 was conducted on 23 rd February, 2016 by Shri Vinay Shankar Singh, Joint Director (CAPIO) Goals and objectives of the Section achieved during the year: The details of the activities by the Section in the year 2016 have been enumerated above. The goals and objectives for the year were set out in the Section's Action Plan for the year These were monitored regularly and by and large, the goals/targets that were set were achieved. 61