Bangalore: The Legislative Council has constituted an Ethics Committee, which will serve as an ombudsman. The Legislative Assembly is expected to follow suit shortly.

The committee had its genesis in the recommendations made at the presiding officers' conference held in New Delhi last year. The aim of constituting the committee is to ensure that legislators work according to the rules of the legislature and meet the expectations of the people.

The establishment of a similar committee for the Assembly is on the anvil. The Karnataka legislature is the second after Andhra Pradesh to set up an Ethics Committee. The Maharashtra legislature, which is also bicameral, is said to be considering constituting separate committees for the two Houses. The two Houses of Parliament have separate Ethics Committees, which prompted the adoption of a resolution at the last presiding officers' meet to set up committees for State legislatures.

Credit should go to Council Chairman V.R. Sudarshan for convincing members about the need for such a panel.

Before constituting the Ethics Committee, the rules of procedure for the conduct of business of the House concerned has to be suitably amended, and this detailed exercise was undertaken some time ago. The rules of procedure of the Council have been brought in accordance with Article 208 (1) of the Constitution. It is the second time that the rules of procedure of the House have been amended in over 50 years. The behaviour of members while on a tour abroad or while interacting with the media should be in accordance with the rules.

Mr. Sudarshan told The Hindu that the Ethics Committee would act like a watchdog and people could complain to it with regard to the conduct of members of the House. The Ethics Committee of the Council is headed by Deputy Chairman Sachidanand Khot and has six members of the House on it.

Asked about the powers of the committee, particularly with reference to the expulsion of members guilty of an offence, the Chairman said it was the House that was supreme on such matters.

The committee, on receiving a complaint, would conduct an investigation and place its report before the Chairman. Based on the findings of the report, it was for the Chairman to place the report before the House. Any action against a member found guilty had to be decided by a majority of the members of the House, Mr. Sudarshan said.

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