M M Joshi, Shanta Kumar reappointed House panel chiefs

Senior BJP leaders Murli Manohar Joshi and Shanta Kumar have been reappointed as chairmen of the Estimates Committee and the parliamentary panel on Public Undertakings, respectively for a fixed tenure of one year. Joshi has been chairing the Estimates Committee from last three terms starting August 2014. Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan appointed him as the head of the panel on May 1.

Besides Joshi, there are 29 members in the panel.

All the members, including the chairman, are selected from the sitting MPs of Lok Sabha. The functions of the committee are to suggest alternative policies in order to bring about efficiency and economy in administration.

It also examines whether the finances are laid out within the limits of the policy implied in the estimates and also to suggest the form in which the estimates shall be presented to Parliament.

Meanwhile, the panel on public undertakings consists of 22 members, out of which 15 are from the Lok Sabha and seven are nominated by the Rajya Sabha. It examines the reports and accounts of Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs) and that of Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) on the state-run firms.

The panel on PSUs also keeps a close watch on whether the affairs of the PSUs are being managed in accordance with sound business principles and prudent commercial practices.