Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC)

What is a Joint Parliamentary Committee?

A Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) is a temporary ad hoc committee of Parliament constituted to conduct a detailed examination of a specific Bill, policy issue, financial irregularity, scam or matter of national importance. It brings together members of both the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha to undertake detailed scrutiny, consultations and fact-finding before submitting its report to Parliament.

A JPC automatically ceases to exist after completing the task assigned to it and submitting its report.

Constitution and Legal Basis

The Constitution of India does not specifically provide for a JPC. It is constituted through a motion adopted by one House of Parliament and agreed to by the other House, in accordance with parliamentary rules and procedures.

The committee functions with secretarial and administrative assistance from the Lok Sabha Secretariat and operates from the Parliament House Complex, New Delhi.

Composition

A JPC consists of members from both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha. Its strength is decided separately for each committee, and there is no permanently fixed number of members.

Members are drawn from different political parties, including the ruling alliance and opposition, thereby providing broader parliamentary representation.

Chairperson

The JPC is generally chaired by a Lok Sabha Member of Parliament appointed by the Speaker of the Lok Sabha. The Chairperson presides over meetings, coordinates deliberations and guides the committee towards preparation of its final report.

Functions and Powers of JPC

Detailed Examination

A JPC is constituted when an issue requires deeper scrutiny than is possible through ordinary parliamentary debate. It examines documents, evidence, government actions, stakeholder views and other relevant material before arriving at its conclusions.

Evidence Collection

The committee can summon experts, government officials, public authorities, organisations, associations and other stakeholders to provide evidence, opinions and relevant documents.

Public Consultation

Where considered necessary, a JPC can invite written suggestions and oral submissions from interested individuals and institutions. This allows wider consultation on matters under examination.

Report and Recommendations

After completing its examination, the committee prepares a detailed report containing findings, observations and recommendations and submits it to Parliament.

Members who disagree with the majority view may submit a dissent note, which can be included along with the committee's report.

Advisory Nature

The recommendations of a JPC are not legally binding on the Government. However, they carry considerable parliamentary and political significance because they emerge from detailed examination involving members from different political parties.

Why is a JPC Important?

A JPC strengthens parliamentary scrutiny and accountability by allowing complex issues to be examined in greater depth than is normally possible during regular legislative proceedings.

It provides a platform for cross-party deliberation, expert consultation and evidence-based examination. Its findings can influence subsequent legislation, government policy and institutional reforms.

Historical Examples

JPCs have been constituted to examine several major issues, including the Bofors scandal (1987), Harshad Mehta securities scam (1992), Ketan Parekh share market scam (2001), the National Register of Citizens-related issue (2016) and the Personal Data Protection Bill (2019).

JPCs in Focus in 2026

130th Constitution Amendment Bill

A 31-member JPC chaired by BJP MP Aparajita Sarangi is examining the proposed 130th Constitution Amendment Bill. The proposal concerns the removal of the Prime Minister, Chief Ministers and Union or State Ministers from office if they remain in custody for 30 consecutive days in specified serious criminal cases.

The committee has been examining the proposal through multiple meetings and is considering the need for appropriate safeguards to ensure fair implementation and prevent potential misuse.

One Nation, One Election

A separate 39-member JPC chaired by BJP MP P. P. Chaudhary is examining the Constitution (129th Amendment) Bill, 2024 and the Union Territories Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2024.

These proposals seek to facilitate simultaneous elections to the Lok Sabha and State Legislative Assemblies, popularly referred to as “One Nation, One Election.”

The committee has undertaken wider consultations with States and stakeholders and has visited several States to gather views before finalising its recommendations.

Significance of the Review

The JPC's examination focuses on the constitutional, legal and administrative implications of the proposed reforms. It considers issues related to governance, electoral management, constitutional provisions and practical implementation before placing its recommendations before Parliament.