Joint Parliamentary Committee – Artifex.News

Politicial decision must on cut-off for mid-term polls under the simultaneous election system: Joint Parliamentary Committee chairman

admin — Tue, 19 May 2026 03:12:00 +0000

P.P. Choudhary, chairman of Joint Parliamentary Committee on simultaneous elections. File
| Photo Credit: ANI

The decision on the definition of the ‘remainder of the term’ for Lok Sabha or State Assemblies before an election is held will be a political one to be taken in consultation with political parties, said P.P. Choudhary, chairman of Joint Parliamentary Committee on ‘One Nation, One Election’ on Monday (May 16, 2026).

“Assuming the government loses majority after two-and-a-half years, midterm election for the remaining two-and-a-half years’ period can be held. However, a decision has to be made for a situation when the majority is lost with six months or three months left before the end of the term. The decision to have a cut-off time to determine the remainder of the term will have to be a political decision in consultation with parties,” Mr. Choudhary told presspersons here.

He was speaking after holding consultations with various stakeholders on the Constitution (129^th Amendment) Bill, 2024, and the Union Territories Laws (Amendment) Bill on the issue of simultaneous elections. He suggested that an amendment to anti-defection legislation would also be required while President’s Rule can also be applied for the remainder of the term.

When asked about a situation where a fractured mandate prevents the formation of a government, he said that there is a mechanism to resolve such a situation. “Fractured mandate can be in any system. Various suggestions have come on how the synchronisation can be achieved. Discussions are underway on the remainder of term.”

Pointing out that the Constitution’s 93^rd amendment for local bodies has addressed the remainder of the term, he said: “When that can be achieved at the grassroots level, why cannot it be incorporated at the level of State Assemblies and Parliament? There could be a possibility of electing a Chief Minister by the Assembly also.”

“Nowhere in the world you see elections taking place for five to six Assemblies every year. Everyone is affected in the chain. Programmes are not reaching people. Teachers are burdened with election work. It is important for the elections to be conducted together.” He pointed out that general elections and elections to State Assemblies were conducted simultaneously in four elections between 1952 and 1967.

“The cycle was disturbed due to the imposition of President’s Rule and emergency, and the creation of new States. We cannot underestimate voters. They are vigilant, especially in rural areas. Though they do express their preferences publicly, they know who to vote for at the State and national level. In the past, voters have elected different governments when simultaneous elections were held,” he said.

To another question on whether it was going to be ‘One Nation-One Party’ system, Mr. Choudhary asked: “Do you think what happened between 1952 and 1967 was for one party? It is not being proposed by the Prime Minister (Narendra Modi). The Election Commission had recommended it in 1980; the Law Commission of India has recommended thrice in the past; and the Parliamentary Standing Committee has recommended simultaneous elections in 2015.”

He said some parties have taken differing stands on the matter, but ultimately it is a public policy in national interest. “In democracy, it is the will of the people and parties will have to change their stand based on the will of the people.

Published – May 19, 2026 01:28 am IST

Source link

Waqf Board Amendment Bill Necessary, Archaeological Body Tells Joint Parliamentary Committee

admin — Fri, 06 Sep 2024 19:38:49 +0000

The Waqf Act 1995 empowers the Waqf Board to declare any property or building as Waqf property.

New Delhi:

The fourth meeting of the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) to examine the Waqf Amendment Bill, 2024, was held on Friday.

During the meeting, senior officials of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) made a presentation before the Joint Parliamentary Committee. Several stakeholders, including the Zakat Foundation of India and the Telangana Waqf Board, put forth their views, suggestions, and oral evidence on the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024.

Speaking after the JPC-led meeting, Shiv Sena (Shinde group) leader and panellist of the JPC, Naresh Mhaske told ANI that Waqf Board properties are not being used for the welfare of the poor.

“This is why the Waqf Board Amendment Bill has been brought and as members of the committee, we are deliberating on the bill, and it will soon be tabled in the Parliament for approval. ASI also attended the meeting. ASI said that many properties which have previously been conserved by the government of India, have been claimed by the Waqf without any proof,” Mr Mhaske told ANI.

Opposition parties have been continuously opposing the Waqf Board Amendment Bill in JPC meetings, leading to uproar and heated debates.

Naresh Mhaske said that the opposition only talks about opposing, and there is a competition among them to see who can speak out more against the amendment bill and deliver more speeches.

“After Owaisi delivered a speech, others followed suit to secure their vote bank and showcase their strength,” he added.

Mr Mhaske said that the Zakat Foundation and Telangana Waqf Board also shared the same view, arguing against amending the Waqf Board bill while presenting their reasoning.

According to sources, the Archaeological Survey of India gave a detailed presentation in the JPC-led meeting on issues related to Waqf in protected monuments and sites and explained the problems they are facing. They also discussed why the Waqf Board Amendment Bill is necessary.

The meeting also witnessed heated exchanges between the opposition parties and the ruling party MPs regarding various amendments to the proposed Bill.

In the third JPC-led meeting on Waqf held on Thursday, the presentation was given by ministries including the Ministry of Urban Development, Railways, and Road and Transport. The Secretary of the Housing Development Department also presented his views in the JPC meeting, stating that there is a dispute between DDA and Waqf Board over 138 properties in Delhi, out of which 123 properties are highly contentious, the sources said.

Naresh Mhaske earlier told ANI that discussions are being done on various topics regarding the Waqf Amendment Bill 2024 in the JPC and to ensure that the poor people from minority communities get benefits from the bill. “I urge the opposition to think about the interest of the country and constitution. They should stop creating confusion among the people,” he added.

The Waqf Act 1995 empowers the Waqf Board to declare any property or building as Waqf property in the name of charity. According to sources, using this authority, the Waqf Board has issued notifications to declare protected monuments as Waqf properties, resulting in conflicts with the rights granted under the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act 1958.

The sources claim that the Waqf Board restricts the Archaeological Survey of India from performing regular conservation and maintenance work at these protected monuments. There are several instances where Waqf authorities have made changes to the original structure of protected monuments, affecting their authenticity and integrity. Dual authority over monuments of national importance often leads to administrative issues.

According to sources, ASI in their presentation mentioned that representative or committee members of Waqf sometimes make unilateral decisions that conflict with policies. In some cases, ASI employees are restricted from entering certain parts of the monument, citing confidentiality. Waqf authorities sometimes claim ownership of the monument, leading to management issues.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

Source link

5 Reasons Why Harish Salve Says Parliamentary Panel Into Hindenburg Report Will Set Wrong Precedent

admin — Tue, 13 Aug 2024 14:45:15 +0000

Mr Salve said it is “shameful” that a section of political leaders are taking Hindenburg seriously.

In the wake of the latest allegations made by US short-seller Hindenburg Research, legal expert and Senior Advocate Harish Salve has warned that giving credence to organisations like that will lead to them questioning India’s judiciary one day.

Here Are Five Points On This Big Story:

Speaking exclusively to NDTV on Tuesday, Mr Salve addressed the opposition’s demand for a joint parliamentary committee to investigate Hindenburg’s latest allegations that Securities Exchange Board of India (SEBI) chairperson Madhabi Puri Buch and her husband, Dhaval, had a stake in offshore entities used in alleged financial wrongdoing by the Adani Group.
The former solicitor general said a joint parliamentary committee (JPC) is not an appellate body and such panels are set up in rare cases, when there are issues of national importance. Mr Salve stressed that the push for a JPC probe is undermining the authority of the Supreme Court and a regulatory body like the SEBI.
“Tomorrow you will ask for a JPC investigation into the Supreme Court’s decision on reservation or electoral bonds… This is not what the Parliament is meant for,” Mr Salve told NDTV, adding that in cases of alleged breach of law, the Supreme Court’s order is the last word. “Can a Parliamentary committee negate the Supreme Court’s observations?” he asked.
“In any other country, people would have said the Hindenburg report belongs in a garbage bin. Hindenburg is trying to browbeat SEBI. There should be a tribunal for defamation in India. Tomorrow, such bodies won’t spare even judges,” Mr Salve told NDTV.
The legal expert also said it is “shameful” that a section of political leaders are taking Hindenburg seriously. “Why do people get away with wild allegations? In India, we don’t respect people’s reputations, it is time we started taking reputations seriously,” Mr Salve said, accusing the short-seller of “mocking India”.

‘Adani scam’ exposed role of tax havens in hiding violation of Indian regulations: Jairam Ramesh

admin — Thu, 14 Sep 2023 07:31:44 +0000

Senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh. File
| Photo Credit: The Hindu

The Congress on September 14 alleged that the “Adani scam” has exposed the role tax havens play in hiding large-scale violation of Indian laws and said the issue should have been discussed at the recent G20 Summit.

It also said that if a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) probe is ordered into the allegations against the Adani Group, it will have to make sure that any loopholes for round-tripping and money-laundering are effectively shut.

In a post on X, Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said the rise in Indian outward direct investment in the past 25 years has been a sign of deepening globalisation.

“However, it is disturbing that offshore tax havens such as Bermuda, Jersey and Cyprus rank among the top 10 destinations for Indian investment, according to the RBI,” he said.

“This is in addition to Mauritius that has long been suspected as a preferred destination for Indian money-laundering and round-tripping,” the Congress leader noted.

“The Adani MegaScam has exposed the critical role such tax havens play in hiding the large-scale violation of Indian laws and regulations. These violations are hollowing out our economy and affecting the credibility of our stock markets,” Mr. Ramesh said.

“The G20 was the right forum to take up this issue and ensure concrete action against tax havens. But the Prime Minister was busy projecting his own image rather than protecting India’s interests,” he claimed.

“A JPC into the Adani MegaScam will have to make sure that any remaining loopholes for round-tripping and money-laundering are effectively shut,” the Congress leader said.

The Congress and other Opposition parties have been demanding a JPC probe into the Adani issue and will take up the issue during the upcoming special session of Parliament from September 18 to 22.

U.S. short-seller Hindenburg Research, in a report released on January 24, alleged accounting fraud, stock price manipulation and use of tax havens by the Adani Group, triggering a stock market rout. The Adani Group has denied all allegations by Hindenburg.

Source link