IT panel to meet via video conference-THE HINDU-21-04-2020

Details:

Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla has allowed the holding of a meeting of the Parliamentary Committee on Information and Technology via video conference, committee chairman Shashi Tharoor said. “Delighted to announce that Lok Sabha Speaker ombirlakota has approved the holding of meetings of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Information Technology by video conference. What could be more appropriate than for our Committee to set this welcome precedent? the Congress leader said. Rule 267 concerning the functioning of committees says that ‘The sittings of a committee shall be held within the precincts of the Parliament House, and if it becomes necessary to change the place of sitting outside the Parliament House, the matter shall be referred to the Speaker whose decision shall be final’.

Bar on videoconferencing:

Once the meeting is held through a videoconference, how will you ensure that the member on the other end of the videoconference is alone,” Labour Committee Chairman B. .

Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on Agriculture Parvatagouda C Gaddigoudar too said he would soon call a meeting. “We are going through a grave crisis and the lockdown has severely crippled agriculture. Last week, Congress MP Manish Tewari wrote to Jayant Sinha, Chairman of the Finance Committee, urging him to call a meeting at the earliest. Tewari said there was need for a joint committee on COVID-19.