Adhir writes to LS Speaker on ethics panel proceedings against Moitra

Congress Lok Sabha leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury on Saturday wrote to Speaker Om Birla regarding the ethics committee's proceedings against Trinamool Congressman Mahua Moitra in a cash-for-query case and demanded a re-investigation and a appropriate review of human rights rules and processes. functioning of parliamentary committees.

In a four-page letter to the Speaker, Chowdhury said there is no clear demarcation between the roles envisaged for the Privileges Committee and the Ethics Committee, especially when it comes to the exercise of criminal justice powers.

Furthermore, there is no clear definition of “unethical conduct” and a “code of conduct” has yet to be formulated, although it is contemplated in Rule 316B of the Rules.

These issues, including the procedures followed by the committee – which have significant influence and influence on the polity – may require deeper attention and the processes need to be streamlined under the leadership of the Speaker, he said in the letter.

Chowdhury, who is also chairman of the Public Accounts Committee, said the views expressed by him are in his personal capacity.

The Lok Sabha Ethics Committee report recommending Moitra's expulsion in the cash-for-query case will be tabled in the lower house on Monday.

According to the agenda papers circulated by the Lok Sabha Secretariat, Ethics Committee Chairman Vinod Kumar Sonkar will table the panel's first report in the House of Representatives.

The committee at a meeting on November 9 adopted its report recommending Moitra's expulsion from the Lok Sabha over the “cash-for-query” charge.