Adhir Chowdhury writes to LS Speaker on ethics panel proceedings against Mahua Moitra in 'cash-for-query' case

In a four-page letter to the speaker, Chowdhury said there is no clear-cut demarcation in the roles envisaged for the Privileges Committee and the Ethics Committee, more so in matters of exercising penal powers

Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury: File picture

PTI, New Delhi, 02.12.23 :  The Congress' Lok Sabha leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury on Saturday wrote to Speaker Om Birla on the Ethics Committee's proceedings against Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra in a "cash-for-query" case and demanded a relook at the rules and processes of parliamentary committees.

In his four-page letter, Chowdhury said there is no clear demarcation in the roles envisaged for the Privileges Committee and the Ethics Committee, especially on exercising penal powers.

Additionally, there is no clear definition of "unethical conduct" and a "code of conduct" -- though envisaged under Rule 316B of the Rules of Procedure -- remains to be formulated.

These issues, inclusive of the procedures being followed by the committee, may require deeper attention and the processes streamlined under the speaker's guidance, 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 report of the Lok Sabha Ethics Committee recommending the expulsion of Moitra 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 Chairperson Vinod Kumar Sonkar will lay on the table of the House the panel's first report.

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

Chowdhury said in his letter, "I am writing with the primary intention of placing before you my views, which are being made in my personal capacity, on the need for having a relook and appropriately reviewing and recasting the rules and processes that relate to the functioning of parliamentary committees that are primarily concerned with the interests and rights of Members of Lok Sabha viz, Privileges Committee, Ethics Committee, etc." "I have felt this to be necessary mainly in the light of the phenomenal coverage, scrutiny and analysis -- substantial amount of which was unwarranted -- that the working of the Ethics Committee of Parliament received in the matter of examining and reporting on the purported acts of misdemeanour on the part of a fellow Parliamentarian and colleague Mohua Moitra," he said.

The Congress leader said given the facts pertaining to the examination of and reporting on the complaints of misdemeanour on the part of Moitra by the Ethics Committee, "I would once again urge upon you to have the entire processes relating to the jurisdiction and procedures followed examined and such remedial measures, as needed, taken towards streamlining the functioning." To ensure that members do not become susceptible and find themselves on the "wrong side", the protocols relating to the functioning of the Lok Sabha's official portal will have to be looked into and reviewed, he asserted.

"I am sure that under your leadership and control, no injustice will be done and the processes relating to the functioning of Parliament and conduct of the business of the House is smoothened for the benefit of all members," Chowdhury said.

Citing records, Chowdhury said the Lok Sabha's Ethics Committee, prior to proceedings against Moitra, dealt with a miniscule number of cases that mainly pertained to purported acts of deviation from the general norms of conduct with the punitive action recommended being confined to admonition, reprimand and suspension from sittings of the House for a specified period.

"The purported act of misdemeanour on the part of Mahua Moitra, which is sharing her 'login credentials and passwords' for the 'official portal' with a Dubai-based businessman to 'raise questions in Parliament in return for gifts/favours' has also been compared and a parallel drawn with the 2005 case where 10 members of Lok Sabha were expelled for receiving cash for posing questions in Parliament," he noted.

He also cited other past instances to underline his arguments.

Chowdhury said the Dubai-based businessman who purportedly had access to Moitra's "login credentials" and was placing questions on her behalf was, according to reports, not called for deposing.

"It is also not clearly known as to why the businessman chose to turn against the member (Moitra) despite his interests apparently being served by way of posing questions by using the login credentials. Accepting gifts and giving gifts … applied is a common social practice and it would be extremely difficult to link or attribute accepting gifts to be a money trail for deriving favours," Chowdhury said in the letter.

The Congress leader also pointed out that the proceedings of the committee's sittings are strictly confidential.

"Yet, the chairman of the Ethics Committee as well as the complainant member were openly parading their views and passing judgments while the matter was under investigation and formulation of the findings and framing the report was underway," he said.