Why in News?

• As Parliament moved to a new building recently, two matters (affect MPs themselves and seek a commitment to good behaviour and proper conduct from them) have kept pending for years now in the Lok Sabha.
• The first is the formulation of a Code of Conduct for members of Lok Sabha and second is a declaration of members’ business interests - both have long been applicable to members of Rajya Sabha.

What’s in Today's Article?

• What is the Code of Conduct for Members of Parliament (MPs)?
• Declaration of MPs’ Business Interests

What is the Code of Conduct for Members of Parliament (MPs)?

• The Code of Conduct is a collection of rules and principles intended to assist MPs in making decisions about their conduct in relation to the business in the Parliament.
• A code for Union ministers was adopted in 1964 and in the case of MPs the first step was the constitution of Parliamentary Standing Committees on Ethics in both the Houses. The Committee will -
  • Examine every complaint relating to unethical conduct of a member of Lok Sabha/Rajya Sabha referred to it by the Speaker/Chairman and make such recommendations as it may deem fit.
  • Formulate a Code of Conduct for members and suggest amendments or additions to the Code of Conduct from time to time.
• After the Ethics Committee’s report is tabled in the House, it is taken up for discussion and once approved by the House, it goes to the Rules Committee, which drafts Rules based on the recommendation.
• The first Ethics Committee in Rajya Sabha was inaugurated by Chairman K R Narayanan in 1997. A 14-point Code of Conduct for members of the House has been in force since 2005. These include -
  • Private interests are subordinate to the duty of the public office,
  • Members must not do anything that brings disrepute to the Parliament and affects its credibility,
  • Members must utilise their position to advance the general well-being of the people, etc.
• In the case of Lok Sabha, the 1st Ethics Committee was constituted in 2000 and has been constituted for every newly elected Lok Sabha since 13th Lok Sabha.
  • The Ethics Committee was mandated in 2015 to formulate a code of conduct for Lok Sabha members.
  • Recently, Lok Sabha said in response to a query under the RTI Act that the matter (of the Code of Conduct) is under consideration of the Committee on Ethics.

Declaration of MPs’ Business Interests:

• Concerns over potential conflicts of interest of MPs were first expressed almost a century ago in 1925.
• According to the Lok Sabha Secretariat,
  • Where a member of a Committee has a personal, pecuniary or direct interest in any matter which is to be considered by the Committee, such member shall state one’s own interest to the Speaker through the Chairperson of the Committee.
  • After considering the matter, the Speaker shall give a decision which shall be final.
• The Lok Sabha Ethics Committee had recommended in 2012 for adoption of the Rajya Sabha model of Register of Members’ Interest.
  • Rule 293 of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in the Rajya Sabha states that there shall be maintained 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 and is accessible to ordinary citizens under the RTI Act.
• The Lok Sabha Secretariat was accordingly directed to prepare a draft report on the subject. However, preparation of such a report has been pending since then.