CONSULTATIVE BODIES' CONVERSION

Summary

This unsigned English newspaper clipping reports that the Speaker told the Lok Sabha that the Government intended to convert consultative committees attached to various ministries into Parliamentary Committees. The proposal had become controversial over whether the proceedings of consultative committees should be raised in the House. Mr. P. K. V. Kesava Menon of the CPI questioned the decision, while Mr. D. N. Patodia objected to a reference concerning cloth prices. The Speaker also cautioned against alleging that the Government had dropped legislation against Naxalites under Communist pressure in the West Bengal Consultative Committee.

The clipping continues with brief reports on the Bhakra project, irrigation, power generation, and compensation for farmers whose tubewells were affected. The second page also contains unrelated market-rate and financial-news items, including Bombay kerb rates and a New York cotton futures report. No author, publication title, date, or publisher is visible.

Key points

• The Government proposed converting ministry-linked consultative committees into Parliamentary Committees.
• The proposal prompted controversy over whether consultative-committee proceedings should be brought before the Lok Sabha.
• P. K. V. Kesava Menon questioned the decision, while D. N. Patodia objected to a reference concerning cloth prices.
• The Speaker cautioned against claims that legislation against Naxalites had been dropped under Communist pressure.
• Adjacent reports discuss the Bhakra project, irrigation, power generation, and compensation for affected farmers.
• The clipping is unsigned and lacks a visible source publication, date, or publisher.