Friday, September 2 2005 16:13 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: In a move to improve the functioning of Consultative Committees of MPs attached to various Ministries, Government today (Sept 2, 2005) revised the guidelines for them.

The revised guidelines regarding constitution, functioning and procedures of the Committees include that they should hold six meetings in a year of which four are mandatory and the strength of such a committee shall be a minimum of ten members and a maximum of 30.

Briefing reporters after the meeting of the Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee said that as per the new guidelines no sub-committees of a Consultative Committee should be constituted.

One meeting of the Committee in a year could be held outside Delhi during inter-session.

"It has been decided that if the members are less than ten, then the Consultative Committees would not be constituted and after constitution, if the members resign for some reasons taking the strength to less than ten, then such committees would be dissolved," he said.

Besides, a minimum of two weeks notice needed to be given to the members when a meeting is held during inter-session.

The agenda papers should be supplied at least three days in advance.

Mukherjee said that updating the guidelines would give better result in the functioning of the Consultative Committees.