Committee on Petitions
Topic: Parliamentary Procedure, Committees and Privileges · NCERT: Beyond NCERT
Meaning
The Committee on Petitions is a committee in each House of Parliament. It examines petitions on bills and on matters of public importance. A petition is a formal written request. The committee can also hear representations from individuals and associations about their problems with the government. This gives ordinary citizens a way to bring their complaints directly before Parliament.
Example
Suppose a group of farmers petitions Parliament about a delay in compensation for land taken by the government. The committee can examine the complaint, ask the ministry to explain and recommend relief.
Don't confuse with
- Committee on Government Assurances: checks whether ministers have kept the promises they made in the House. It does not deal with citizens' petitions.
Related concepts
- Departmentally related standing committee
- Joint Parliamentary Committee
- Business Advisory Committee
- Committee on Private Members' Bills and Resolutions
- Committee on Government Assurances
- Committee on Subordinate Legislation
- Committee on the Welfare of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes
- Committee on Empowerment of Women
- Joint Committee on Offices of Profit
- Consultative committees