Facts for Prelims (FFP)
Source: TH
Context: Lok Sabha Speaker has referred a “cash-for-query” complaint made by a BJP MP against a Trinamool Congress member to the Ethics Committee of the Lower House.
- The complaint is based on evidence from an advocate, which he claims shows the exchange of bribes between the accused and a businessman.
- He also pointed out that a significant number of recent parliamentary questions were focused on the Adani Group, a conglomerate she has accused of malpractices.
The Lok Sabha Ethics Committee examines complaints of unethical conduct by members of the Lok Sabha. The committee was established in 2000 by the late Speaker G M C Balayogi. It became a permanent part of the House in 2015. The committee was established in Rajya Sabha in 1997.
The committee’s functions include:
- Examining complaints of unethical conduct by members of the Lok Sabha
- Making recommendations
- Formulating a code of conduct for members
- Suggesting amendments or additions to the code of conduct
About Cash for Query Complaint:
A “cash-for-query” complaint is an accusation that someone took money in exchange for asking questions in Parliament.
For example, in 2005, 11 former MPs were put on trial for a “cash-for-query” scam. The sting showed them taking cash to raise questions in Parliament
