SC BENCH TO DECIDE ON PANEL REPORTS

The Supreme Court on Thursday took up for adjudication whether in the absence of Parliament taking a decision, the court can give a direction to the government to act on the basis of the report of the Parliamentary Standing Committee. A five-judge constitution bench, comprising Chief Justice Dipak Misra and Justices A.K. Sikri, A.M. Kanwilkar, D.Y. Chandrachud and Ashok Bhushan, heard preliminary arguments from senior counsel Harish Salve, who was of the view that the Parliamentary Standing Committee reports could not form the basis of evidence. He said every institution must work within its sphere and the court could not direct in what manner Parliament should function or act upon a report. The Centre had made it clear that standing reports are meant to be taken as an advice given to Parliament and no direction can be given to government to act on it. It was submitted that it was for Parliament to act on the report, accept or reject the same.