“The committee is of the view that a provision may be made to the effect that if a member has a personal, pecuniary or direct interest in any subject/matter, he should not be nominated in the first place to the departmentally related standing committee, which normally examines such subjects/ matters,” the committee said in its report.

Amid growing instances of misconduct by members of Parliament, the committee has recommended a broad framework of code of conduct for members but has ruled against codification of parliamentary privileges.
With the issue of conflict of interest gaining prominence in the post-liberalisation era, the committee has held that provisions relating to Register of Members Interest and Guidelines to members for resolution of conflict of interest should find a place in the code.

Second report

In its second report on “various facets of misconduct and basic attributes of standards of conduct/behaviour expected of members” said, “there is an increasing feeling among people that members misuse their position for bettering their interests. The prevailing misgivings need to be dispelled.”

The committee suggested that whenever a matter regarding misconduct comes up, it would be imperative for the legislature to which the member belonged to take cognisance of such misconduct with alacrity as well as investigate the same.

It also emphasised that the thrust of an inquiry by a parliamentary committee into such matters would be upon the moral and ethical aspect of the issue.