Chapter XVII - COMMITTEES

Chapter XVII

A – Standing Committees

[1][148. Standing Committees.– (1) In addition to other Committees constituted under these rules, there shall be a Standing Committee for each Department of the Government reflected in the Punjab Government Rules of Business 2011 to be elected by the Assembly after a general election.

(2) Except as otherwise provided in these rules, a Committee shall deal with a matter which may be referred to it by the Assembly or by the Speaker:

Provided that any subject not so assigned or the subjects assigned to any Department for which a Standing Committee has not been constituted shall be dealt with by the Standing Committee on Law.

(3) The Speaker may change the name of the Committee and the Department assigned to a Committee in order to bring this rule in accord with the Departments reflected in the Punjab Government Rules of Business 2011 by notification in the official Gazette.]

[2][149. Composition of Standing Committees.– (1) Each Standing Committee shall consist of fifteen members of whom at least two shall be women.

(2) The membership of Committees shall be allocated by the Speaker in accordance with the proportional strength of political parties and independent groups in the House.

(3) A member may be a member of more than one Standing Committee at the same time.

(4) The Minister and the Parliamentary Secretary concerned shall be ex-officio members of the Committee:

Provided that the Minister shall not be entitled to vote as an ex-officio member unless he is a member of the Assembly:

Provided further that, in the case of Department which is in the charge of the Chief Minister or for which no Minister has been appointed, the concerned Parliamentary Secretary, if any, shall be its ex-officio member and, where there is no Parliamentary Secretary also, the Minister or Parliamentary Secretary to whom the subject or matter referred to the Committee is assigned shall act as its ex-officio member and in the absence of such assignment the Minister for Law and Parliamentary Affairs shall act as ex-officio member of the Committee.

(5) The member-in-charge of the Bill, and in the case of any other matter referred by the Assembly to the Standing Committee, the member who has proposed the subject or matter for reference to, or study by, the Committee, may attend the meetings of the Committee but shall not vote unless he is an elected member of the Committee.

(6) The Secretary of the Department concerned and the Secretary of the Law & Parliamentary Affairs Department or an officer not below the rank of a Special Secretary, designated by each of them in this behalf, shall attend the meeting of a Committee as expert advisers.]

150. Method of election.– (l) Unless otherwise provided in these rules, members of all the Committees shall be elected, as far as possible, in accordance with the agreement of the Leader of the House and the Leader of the Opposition and in the absence of a Leader, his Deputy.

(2) In case there is no agreement mentioned in sub-rule (1), the members of each Committee shall be elected by the Assembly from amongst its members according to the principle of proportional representation by means of a single transferable vote in accordance with the procedure laid down in the Fifth Schedule.

[3][(3) The Committees shall be elected by the Assembly within ninety days after the election of the Leader of the House following the general election.

(4) After the election of the Committees, if any change in the membership of a Committee is necessitated, the Speaker shall, in consultation with the Minister for Law and Parliamentary Affairs on behalf of the Leader of the House and Leader of Opposition, change the membership of any one or more Committees.]

151. [4][Chairperson] of a Committee.– (1) The [5][Chairperson] of a Committee shall be elected by the Committee from amongst the members of the Committee[6][:]

[7][Provided that a Minister, an Advisor, a Special Assistant or a Parliamentary Secretary, shall not be elected as its Chairperson:

Provided further that if the Chairperson of a Committee is appointed Minister, Advisor, Special Assistant or Parliamentary Secretary, he shall cease to be the Chairperson of that Committee.]

[8][(2) The Chairmanship of Committees shall be allocated by the Speaker in accordance with the proportional strength of political parties and independent groups in the House.]

[9][(3)] If the [10][Chairperson] is absent from a sitting, the Committee shall choose one of its members present to act as [11][Chairperson] for that sitting.

[12][[13][(4)] The election for the [14][Chairperson] of a Committee shall be held within a period of thirty days from the date of the election of the Committee or from the date of vacancy in the office of the [15][Chairperson].]

[16][152. Resignation and removal.– (1) A member may resign his membership of the Committee by writing under his hand addressed to the Speaker:

Provided that if a member has been absent without leave of the Speaker for five consecutive sittings of the Committee, the Chairperson shall bring the fact to the notice of the Committee and thereupon any member may move that the seat of the member who has been so absent be declared vacant.

(2) On consideration of the motion moved under sub-rule (1), the Committee may defer, reject or accept the motion and if the motion is accepted, the seat of the member shall be declared vacant:

Provided that no such motion shall be considered before the expiry of seven days from the date on which the motion was moved.

(3) If the seat of the member is declared vacant, the Secretary General shall cause a notification to that effect to be published in the Gazette.

(4) The Chairperson of a Committee may resign as such by writing under his hand addressed to the Speaker.

(5) The Chairperson of a Committee may be removed from his office on a motion moved by a member of Committee and adopted by majority of elected members of the Committee after giving an opportunity of hearing to the Chairperson.]

153. Casual vacancies.– (1) Casual vacancies in a Committee shall be filled, as soon as possible after such vacancies occur, in the manner provided in rule 150 or, as the case may be, in rule 151.

(2) A member elected under sub-rule (1), shall hold office for the period for which the member in whose place he is elected would have held office.

(3) Subject to the requirement of a quorum, a Committee shall have power to act notwithstanding any vacancy in its membership.

[17][154. Functions.– (1) A Committee shall examine a Bill, subject or matter referred to it by the Assembly or the Speaker and shall submit its report to the Assembly or to the Speaker, as the case may be, with such recommendations including suggestions for legislation, if any, as it may deem necessary. In the case of a Bill, the Committee shall also examine whether the Bill violates, disregards or is otherwise not in accordance with the Constitution.

(2) The Committee may propose amendments which shall be shown in its report along with original provisions of the Bill.

(3) The Committee may propose such amendments as are within the scope of the Bill, but the Committee shall have no power of preventing the Bill from being considered by the Assembly.

(4) If a Committee does not present its report within the prescribed period, or the time allowed, the Assembly may consider the Bill, subject or matter referred to it, without waiting for the report upon a motion by any member or by the Minister concerned and such Bill, subject or matter shall be treated as withdrawn from the Committee.

(5) A Committee may examine the expenditures, administration, delegated legislation, and policies of the Department concerned and its attached or associated bodies, and may forward its report containing findings and recommendations to the Department concerned and the Department concerned shall, within a period of forty five days, inform the Assembly Secretariat about the actions taken on the findings and recommendations:

Provided that the Speaker, if deem necessary, through a speaking order, may restrain the process of sub-rule (5), if requested by majority of members of the Committee:

Provided further that a Committee shall only bi-annually examine the expenditures of the Department concerned.

(6) Public petitions may be presented on a Bill which has been introduced, or any matter connected with the business pending before the House, or any matter of general public interest which is primarily the concern of the Government, provided that it is not one which falls within the cognizance of a court, nor shall it relate to a matter pending before any court or other authority performing judicial functions.

(7) The Committees, in case of public petitions, shall have powers;

(a) to examine every public petition referred to it, and if the public petition complies with the rules, the Committee may direct that the petition may be circulated in extenso or in summary form; where however circulation of the public petition has not been directed by the Committee, the Speaker may at any time direct that such public petition be circulated;

(b) to report the House on specific complaints made in the petition referred to it after taking such evidence as it deems fit;

(c) to suggest remedial measures either in a concrete form applicable to the case under review or to prevent such cases in future.

(8) Public petitions may be received by the Assembly in hard copy, or through an electronic petition submitted by a person on the Punjab Assembly website, in such mode and manner as may be prescribed.]

[18][154-A. Power to appoint Sub-Committees.– (1) A Committee may appoint one or more Sub-Committees, each having the powers of the whole Committee, to examine any matter that may be referred to them:

Provided that the Chairperson of a Committee concerned shall not be Convener of a Sub-Committee.

(2) The order of reference to a Sub-Committee shall clearly state the point or points for investigation. The report of the Sub-Committee shall be considered by the whole Committee and when approved by the whole Committee, be deemed to be the report of that Committee.]

[19][155. Reference to a Committee.– The Assembly, on a motion made by a member or the Speaker, may remit to the Committee concerned any subject or matter which may be examined by the Committee.]

[20][* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *]

[21][156. Sittings of Committees.– (1) A Committee shall sit on such day and at such hour as the Chairperson may, in consultation with the Secretary General fix:

Provided that the Secretary General in consultation with the Speaker shall fix the meeting of a Committee for election of its Chairperson.

(2) If a Committee is sitting while the Assembly is also sitting, the Chairperson of the Committee shall, if a division is being called in the Assembly, suspend the proceedings of the Committee for such time as will, in his opinion, enable the members to vote in the division.

(3) Subject to sub-rule (1), on a requisition made by not less than one-fourth of the total membership of a Committee, the Chairperson of the Committee shall call a meeting of the Committee within fourteen days from the date of the requisition.

(4) If a notice of requisition for the meeting of a Committee is received when the Chairperson is unable to convene the meeting of the Committee, it shall be submitted to the Speaker who may order to call the meeting of the Committee.]

157. Sittings of Committees while the Assembly is sitting.– (1) A Committee may not meet while the Assembly is sitting except with the approval of the Speaker.

(2) If a Committee is sitting while the Assembly is also sitting, the [22][Chairperson] of the Committee shall, if a Division is being called in the Assembly, suspend the proceedings of the Committee for such time as will, in his opinion, enable the members to vote in the Division.

[23][158. Sitting in camera.– The sitting of a Committee may be held in camera if so determined by the Committee.]

159. Quorum.– (1) The quorum for the election of the [24][Chairperson] of a Committee shall be the majority of the elected members thereof.

[25][(2) Subject to sub-rule (1), the quorum for a sitting of a Committee shall be one-fourth of the elected members.]

160. Voting.– (1) Subject to rule 159, all questions at a sitting of a Committee shall be determined by the majority of its elected members present and voting.

(2) The [26][Chairperson] or the member presiding in his absence shall not vote except in the event of equality of votes.

[27][161. Powers to take evidence or call for papers, records or documents.– (1) A Committee shall have power to require the attendance of persons or the production of papers or records if such course is considered necessary for the discharge of its duties:

Provided that if any question arises whether the evidence of a person or the production of a document is relevant for the purposes of the Committee, the question shall be referred to the Speaker whose decision shall be final:

Provided further that Government may decline to produce a document on the ground that its disclosure would be prejudicial to the defence, security or external relations of Pakistan, and, if the question arises whether the disclosure of a document would be prejudicial as aforesaid, the question shall be referred to the Speaker who shall, after perusing the document, decide whether or not the document should be produced before the Committee.

(2) Subject to the provisions of this rule, a witness may be summoned by an order signed by the Secretary General and shall appear before the Committee and produce such documents as are required for the use of the Committee.

(3) A Committee may invite or summon or allow to appear before the Committee any member or any other person having a special interest in relation to any matter under its consideration and may hear expert evidence and hold public hearing.

(4) Subject to clause (3) of Article 66, read with Article 127, a Committee shall have powers vested in civil court under the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 (Act V of 1908) for enforcing the attendance of any person and compelling the production of documents.

162. Evidence or information to be kept confidential or secret.– Any evidence produced or information tendered before a Committee shall be treated as confidential or secret, unless the Committee, in the public interest decides otherwise.]

163. Views of the Departments on private member's Bills.– In case of a private member's Bill referred to a Committee, the [28][Secretary General] shall transmit a copy of the Bill to the Department concerned with a request for an expression of the views of the Department.

[29][164. Record of the proceedings of Committees.– A summary of the record of the proceedings of each Committee shall be maintained by the Secretary General.]

165. Special reports.– A Committee may, if it thinks fit, make a special report on any matter that arises or comes to light in the course of its work which it may consider necessary to bring to the notice of the Speaker or the Assembly.

[30][166. Reports of Committees.– (1) Where the Assembly has not fixed any time for the presentation of a report, the report of a Committee shall be presented within thirty days from the date on which reference was made to it by the Assembly, unless the Assembly, on a motion being made, directs that the time for presentation of the report be extended to a date specified in the motion:

Provided that in determining the period for presentation of the report in the Assembly, the days when the Assembly is not in Session shall be excluded.

(2) Reports may be either preliminary or final.

(3) The report shall,-

(a) incorporate the views, if any, of the Minister concerned with the matter;

(b) set forth the recommendations of the Committee together with the dissenting note to be submitted during the meeting by the member(s) doing so, if any; and

(c) be signed by the Chairman on behalf of the Committee or, if the Chairman is absent or not readily available, by another member chosen by the Committee.

(4) The Secretary General shall cause a copy of every report of a Committee together with minutes of dissent, if any, to be made available for the use of every member of the Assembly.

(5) If the Assembly is not in session and the period of presentation of the report under sub-rule (1) has expired or is about to expire and the Committee is yet to finish its work, the Speaker may grant a special permission to the Committee to hold not more than one meeting beyond the period specified in sub-rule (1).]

167. Presentation of report.– (1) The report of a Committee shall be presented to the Assembly by the [31][Chairperson] or, in his absence, by any other member of the Committee or by the member-in-charge.

(2) The [32][Secretary General] shall cause every report of the Committee together with the views of the minority, if any, to be printed and a copy thereof made available to members.

[33][168. Agenda and notices of the sittings.– (1) The time table of business of a Committee for sittings shall be determined by the Chairperson of the Committee in consultation with the Secretary General.

(2) The agenda for each sitting of the Committee shall be determined by the Chairperson under intimation to the Minister concerned.

(3) Notices of all sittings of a Committee shall be sent to the members of the Committee and to the Advocate-General if he is named as a member of the Committee or if his presence is required by the Committee.

169. Removal of doubt and interpretation of rules.– If any doubt arises on any point of procedure or interpretation of these rules in this Chapter, the Chairperson may refer the point to the Speaker whose decision shall be final thereon.]

170. Business before Committees not to lapse on prorogation of Assembly.– Any business pending before a Committee shall not lapse by reason only of the prorogation of the Assembly and the Committee shall continue to function notwithstanding such prorogation.

171. Unfinished work of Committees.– (1) A Committee, which is unable to complete its work before the expiration of its term or before the expiration of the term of the Assembly, may report to the Assembly that the Committee has not been able to complete its work. Any report, memorandum or note that the Committee may have prepared, or any evidence that the Committee may have taken, shall be transmitted to the [34][Secretary General], who shall make it available to the Committee that succeeds it.

(2) Notwithstanding anything contained in these rules, a Public Accounts Committee may proceed from the stage where the previous Committee left the proceedings before the dissolution of the Assembly.

(3) A report or a part of the report of a Public Accounts Committee may be presented before a successor Assembly in accordance with rule 167 even if the time for presentation of the report has expired.

B – Select Committee

172. Composition and functions.– (1) The Minister incharge of the Department to which the Bill relates, the [35][Chairperson] of the Committee concerned with the Bill, the member-in-charge and the Minister for Law and Parliamentary Affairs shall be included in a Select Committee and it shall not be necessary to include their names in any motion for election of such a Committee.

(2) The other members of the Committee shall be nominated by the Assembly from amongst its members when a motion that the Bill be referred to a Select Committee is adopted.

(3) The [36][Chairperson] of the Committee concerned with the Bill shall be the [37][Chairperson] of the Select Committee.

(4) If the [38][Chairperson] is not present at any sitting, the members of the Committee present shall elect one of its members to act as [39][Chairperson] for that sitting.

(5) The [40][Chairperson], or the member presiding in his absence, shall not vote except in the event of equality of votes.

(6) A Select Committee may hear expert evidence and representatives of special interests affected by the Bill.

173. Quorum.– (l) The quorum for a sitting of a Select Committee shall be [41][one-fourth] of the total number of members of the Committee.

(2) If at the time fixed for a sitting of the Select Committee, or at any time during any such sitting, there is no quorum, the [42][Chairperson] shall either suspend the sitting until a quorum is present or adjourn the sitting to some future day.

[43][(3) * * * * * * * * * * * * *]

174. Amendments proposed by Select Committee.– A Select Committee shall have power to propose such amendments in the Bill as are not beyond the scope of the Bill.

175. Report.– (1) A Select Committee shall make a report on the Bill within the period specified by the Assembly.

(2) The report of the Select Committee on a Bill shall be presented to the Assembly by the [44][Chairperson] or, in his absence, by any other member of the Committee or by the member-in-charge, and there shall be no debate on it at that stage.

(3) The report of a Select Committee along with the minority view, if any, shall be printed and a copy thereof shall be made available to the members.

C – Public Accounts Committees

[45][176. Composition.– (1) There shall be constituted three Public Accounts Committees, after a general election, for the duration of the Assembly.

(2) Each Committee shall consist of twenty-one members to be elected by the Assembly and the Finance Minister shall be its ex-officio member.

(3) In addition to the business referred to by the Speaker, one of the three Public Accounts Committees shall exclusively deal with the local governments:

Explanation: For the purposes of sub-rule (3), the local governments shall include Local Government and Community Development Department, its allied companies, authorities, bodies, local development authorities and local governments established under the relevant local government law for the time being in force.]

177. Functions.– [46][(1) The Committees shall examine the accounts showing the appropriation of sums granted by the Assembly for the expenditure of the Government, the annual finance accounts of the Government, or, as the case may be, the local governments, the report of the Auditor-General of Pakistan and such other matters as the Speaker or the Finance Minister may refer to the Committees.]

(2) Subject to sub-rule (1), the Committees shall deal with the business assigned to them by the Speaker out of the business referred to the Committees under the said sub-rule.

(3) In scrutinizing the Appropriation Accounts of the Government [47][or, as the case may be, the local governments] and the report of the Auditor-General thereon, it shall be the duty of the Committees to satisfy themselves that–

(a) the moneys shown in the accounts as having been disbursed were legally available for, and applicable to, the service or purpose to which they have been applied or charged;

(b) the expenditure conforms to the authority which governs it; and

(c) every re-appropriation had been made in accordance with such rules as may be prescribed by the Government.

(4) It shall also be the duty of the Committees to–

(a) examine the statement of accounts showing the income and expenditure of state corporations, trading and manufacturing schemes, concerns and projects together with the balance sheets and statements of profit and loss accounts which the Governor may have required to be prepared or are prepared under the provisions of the statutory rules regulating the financing of a particular corporation, a trading concern or project, and the report of the Auditor-General thereon;

(b) examine the statements of Accounts showing the income and expenditure of autonomous and semi-autonomous bodies the audit of which may be conducted by the Auditor-General under the directions of the Governor or under any law; and

(c) consider the report of the Auditor-General in case where the Governor may have required him to conduct the audit of any receipts or to examine the accounts of stores and stocks.

(5) If any money has been spent on any service during a financial year in excess of the amount granted by the Assembly for that purpose, the Committee shall examine with reference to the facts of each case the circumstances leading to such an excess and make such recommendations as it may deem fit.

178. Reports.– (1) The report of each Committee shall be presented within a period of one year from the date on which reference is made to it by the Assembly unless the Assembly, on a motion being made, directs that the time for the presentation of the report be extended to a date specified in the motion.

(2) A Committee may present an interim report or a report in parts.

179. Sittings.– [48][(1) * * * * *]

(2) If necessary in the public interest, a sitting may be held outside Lahore, with the prior permission of the Speaker and the Finance Minister.

[49][(3) Unless otherwise permitted by the Speaker, each of the Public Accounts Committees constituted under sub-rule (1) of rule 176 shall meet during the first, second and third ten days of a month to dispose of the pending business:

Provided that a Committee shall not meet for more than three days in a week without approval of the Speaker.]

D – Committee on Privileges

180. Composition.– (1) There shall be a Committee on Privileges for the duration of the Assembly.

(2) The Committee shall consist of [50][twenty-one] members to be elected by the Assembly and the Minister for Law and Parliamentary Affairs shall be its ex-officio member.

181. Functions.– The Committee shall examine every question referred to it and determine with reference to the facts of each case whether a breach of privilege is involved and, if so, the nature of the breach and the circumstances leading to it, and make such recommendations as it may deem fit.

[51][DA-COMMITTEE ON LAW REFORMS

[52][181-A. Composition.– (1) There shall be a Committee on Law Reforms for the duration of the Assembly, consisting of the Speaker, the Minister for Law and Parliamentary Affairs and nineteen other members to be elected by the Assembly in the manner prescribed in rule 150.

(2) The Speaker shall be the Chairperson of the Committee.

181-B. Functions.– (1) The Committee shall systematically examine and review the implementation of the Constitution (Eighteenth Amendment) Act 2010 (hereinafter referred to as the said Amendment), particularly, its implications for provincial autonomy and governance, and devolution of power and authority, the legal and administrative frameworks and structures, and the Final Report of the Implementation Commission, established under clause (9) of Article 270 AA of the Constitution.

(2) It shall be the duty of the Committee to satisfy itself that necessary measures are undertaken:

(a) for the implementation of the said Amendment in letter and spirit;

(b) for bringing legal and administrative frameworks and structures in conformity with the requirements of the said Amendment;

(c) for removing inconsistencies and anomalies; repealing obsolete or unnecessary provisions of laws applicable in the Province; and

(d) for matters incidental or ancillary thereto.

(3) The Committee shall study and keep under review on a continuing systematic basis the principal and the delegated legislation of the Punjab with a view to satisfy itself that:

(a) it is in accord with the general objectives of the Constitution or the Act pursuant to which it is made;

(b) it does not have inconsistencies and anomalies;

(c) it does not include obsolete or unnecessary provisions;

(d) it does not give retrospective effect to any of the provisions in respect of which the Constitution or the Act does not expressly give any such power; and

(e) matters incidental or ancillary to any matter enumerated in this sub-rule.

(4) The Committee shall be responsible for conducting Post-Legislative Scrutiny of provincial laws, including principal laws and associated delegated legislation. The Committee shall review the implementation, effectiveness, and societal impact of these laws, considering cross-cutting issues such as gender and minorities. A transparent process shall be established for selecting laws for scrutiny, and the Committee shall report its findings and recommendations for necessary reforms to the Assembly and the Government. Stakeholders' engagement shall be integral to this scrutiny process.

(5) The recommendations to the Government under sub-rule (4) shall be made through a resolution by the Assembly which shall be dealt thereafter, so far as possible, in accordance with rule 126 of these Rules.

(6) The Committee shall review, from time to time, these Rules and propose necessary amendments in it.

(7) Advocate General Punjab, Secretaries of Services and General Administration Department, Finance Department, Law and Parliamentary Affairs Department, and the Department concerned, or their nominees shall attend a meeting of the Committee as expert advisors.

(8) The Committee may co-opt any expert in the relevant field to assist the Committee.

(9) The experts in the Committee may be paid such amount as honorarium as may be determined by the Speaker.]

E – Committee on Government Assurances

182. Composition and functions.– (1) There shall be a Committee on Government Assurances to scrutinize the assurances, promises and undertakings given, on the floor of the Assembly, by a Minister or a Parliamentary Secretary and to report on all questions relating thereto which are referred to it under sub-rule (3).

(2) The Committee shall consist of ten members to be elected by the Assembly for its duration.

(3) A member who feels that an assurance or a promise given to him or an undertaking made by a Minister or a Parliamentary Secretary has not been implemented within a reasonable time, he may in writing, propose that the matter may be referred to the Committee. If the Speaker is satisfied that a reasonable time has elapsed and that the matter should be enquired into by the Committee, he may refer the matter to the Committee.

(4) The Committee shall scrutinize such assurances, promises and undertakings as are given during the term of the Assembly.

(5) The Committee shall submit its report within such time as may be fixed by the Speaker or as may be extended by him.

[53][F – House And Library Committee

183. Composition.– (1) There shall be a House and Library Committee consisting of not more than thirteen members to be nominated by the Speaker.

(2) The Deputy Speaker shall be ex-officio Chairperson and the Minister for Communications and Works shall be ex-officio member of the Committee.

184. Functions.– The functions of the Committee shall be-

(a) to exercise supervision over facilities pertaining to accommodation of the members and any matter as may, from time to time, be referred to it by the Speaker;

(b) to deal with the matters relating to the residential accommodation for the staff of the Assembly Secretariat;

(c) to develop the Library, its Reading Room, Automation and Research Centre with a view to help members of the Assembly in the discharge of their duties;

(d) to invite suggestions and advise on the selection of books, periodicals and newspapers;

(e) to advise on reciprocal arrangements for exchange of debates and other publications of the Assembly with friendly countries;

(f) to consider suggestions for improvement of the Library and help in its future expansion;

(g) to assist and encourage the members in fully utilizing the services provided by the Library; and

(h) to consider matters incidental and ancillary to the above functions.]

^[54][G – Omitted]

H – Finance Committee

185. Composition and functions.– (1) There shall be a Finance Committee for the duration of the Assembly, consisting of the Speaker, the Finance Minister and seven other members to be elected by the Assembly in the manner prescribed in rule 150.

(2) The Speaker shall be the [55][Chairperson] and the [56][Secretary General] shall be the Secretary of the Committee.

(3) The Committee shall approve the Annual and Supplementary Budget Estimates of the Assembly and its Secretariat, which shall respectively be included in the Annual Budget Statement and the Supplementary Budget Statement by the Government:

Provided that if at the relevant time, the Assembly stands dissolved or there is no Finance Committee, such approval may be given by the Speaker in anticipation of the approval of the Finance Committee.

(4) The Committee may, from time to time, approve incurring of additional or new expenditure in anticipation of provision of funds, for the Assembly or its Secretariat and the amount or amounts so approved shall be included in the Supplementary Budget.

(5) The Committee may make recommendations in regard to any financial matter relating to the Assembly or its Secretariat referred to it by the Assembly or the Speaker.

(6) Notwithstanding anything contained in these rules, the procedure of the Committee shall be regulated by the rules made by the Committee and until such rules are made, the business of the Committee shall be conducted in such manner as the Speaker may direct.

I – Business Advisory and Ethics Committee

186. Composition and functions.– [57][(1) At the commencement of the Assembly or from time to time, as the case may be, the Speaker may, in consultation with the Leader of the House and the Leader of the Opposition, nominate a Business Advisory and Ethics Committee consisting of not more than seventeen members in accordance with the proportional strength of political parties and independent groups in the House including the Speaker who shall be the Chairperson of the Committee.]

(2) It shall be the function of the Committee to recommend the time that should be allocated for the discussion of the stage or stages of such Government Bills and other business as the Speaker, in consultation with the Leader of the House, may direct for being referred to the Committee.

(3) The Committee shall have the power to indicate in the proposed time table, the different hours at which the various stages of the Bill or other business shall be completed.

[58][(4) The Committee shall also ensure that the Code of Conduct contained in Seventh Schedule is implemented in letter and spirit and for this purpose, it may issue such directions as it may deem appropriate.

(5) The Committee may review Code of Conduct from time to time.]

[59][(6)] The Committee shall have such other functions as may, from time to time, be assigned to it by the Speaker.

J – Special Committee

[60][187. Composition and functions.– (1) The Speaker of his own or the Assembly may, by motion, appoint a Special Committee which shall have such composition and functions as may be specified, by the Speaker or, in the motion, as the case may be.

(2) The Committee shall consist of not more than twelve members excluding the Speaker or a Minister, if any of them is named as a member of the Committee.]

[61][JA – Committee of the Whole House

[62][187-A. Constituting the Committee of the Whole House.– (1) On a motion by the Leader of the House or Leader of the Opposition, as the case may be, the House may constitute itself into a Committee of the Whole House.

(2) The Speaker of his own may also constitute the House into Committee of the Whole House.

(3) When the House constitutes itself into a Committee of the Whole House, it functions as one Committee acting upon any matter(s) referred by the House and conducts its proceedings like a regular Committee with its membership composed of all the members of the House.

187-B. Proceedings.– (1) The Speaker or any member nominated by the Speaker shall preside over the Committee.

(2) The Committee shall conduct business only when there is a quorum. If there is no quorum, the Speaker or the person nominated by the Speaker to preside shall immediately suspend its proceedings.

(3) In addition to his vote as a member, the Speaker or the person nominated by the Speaker to preside shall, in the event of equality of votes, have a casting vote.

(4) Documents and papers in possession of the House or the Assembly Secretariat may be called for by any member and read by the Secretary General for the information of the Committee unless the Committee orders otherwise. Resource persons and/or technical assistants may be invited to attend the proceedings, and upon permission of the Speaker, may directly answer questions asked and inquiries made by the members.

(5) When a Committee of the whole has concluded consideration of a matter referred to it, the Leader of the House or the Leader of the Opposition, as the case may be, shall make a report to the House. Matters reported shall be presented before the House for action as though reported by any other Committee.

(6) The Committee shall have power to require the attendance of any person or summon production of papers, record from any Department, autonomous body, semiautonomous body or organization, or examine such persons on oath or solemn affirmation, or invite or summon any person to give evidence in relation to any matter under its consideration.]]

K – General

188. Supplementary provisions.– (1) The rules pertaining to Standing Committees shall apply to any other Committee, if not inconsistent with the rules particularly applicable to that Committee:

Provided that the provisions of sub-rule (2) of rule 149 shall not apply to the House & Library Committee and the Finance Committee.

(2) Where rules contained in this Chapter are silent on a point, a Committee may refer the matter to the Speaker for his directions for the proper conduct of its proceedings and the directions given by the Speaker shall be followed.

[63][188-A. Conflict of interest.– (1) A Minister, an Advisor, a Special Assistant or a Parliamentary Secretary, shall not be elected as member of a Standing Committee for Government Departments, the Public Accounts Committees and the Committee on Privileges:

Provided that if any of the above-said public functionary is appointed as such after his election to a Committee mentioned in sub-rule (1), he shall cease to be the member of that Committee.]