New Delhi: Delhi Assembly Speaker Vijender Gupta on Wednesday formed department-related standing committees in the house, giving representation to the legislators from both BJP (the party in office) and AAP. While former minister and Bijwasan MLA Kailash Gahlot will chair the standing committee on administrative matters, Gandhi Nagar legislator and a minister in Sheila Dikshit govt, Arvinder Singh Lovely, has been appointed to head the health panel. Former chief minister and Kalkaji MLA Atishi has been named to the panel on administrative matters.While Model Town legislator Ashok Goel will head the standing committee on finance and transport, Rajendra Nagar MLA Umang Bajaj will chair the education panel. Former Congress minister and Mangolpuri MLA Raj Kumar Chauhan has been named as the chairperson of the committee on development. Matiala MLA Sandeep Sehrawat will head the panel on public utilities and civic amenities, and Najafgarh MLA Neelam Pehalwan will chair the welfare committee.According to officials, as per the provisions laid down under Rule 244A, each standing committee shall comprise no more than nine members. They added that the committees will oversee specific departments as detailed in the sixth schedule, which may be amended by the Speaker from time to time.The standing committees of the Delhi legislative assembly play a vital role in strengthening legislative oversight. “Their key functions include examining and recommending reforms aligned with the policies approved by the house, reviewing demands for grants of the respective departments without proposing cut motions, and scrutinising bills referred to them by the house or the Speaker,” the assembly secretariat said in a statement.“Additionally, the committees are tasked with reviewing annual reports and policy documents of the concerned departments and undertaking inquiries into matters of public importance, thereby ensuring transparency, accountability, and effective governance,” it added.The committee on administrative matters will oversee the departments of administrative reforms, services, vigilance, general administration, and law, justice and legislative affairs, among others. The departments of finance, trade and taxes, excise, planning, transport, and tourism will fall under the committee on finance and transport. The education committee will oversee tasks related to school education, higher education, and technical education, as well as art, culture, and sports.The standing committee on welfare will exercise legislative oversight over social welfare, labour, employment, food and supplies, and home departments. The health panel will oversee medical and public health, family welfare, the directorate of health services, and food safety. The standing committee on development will oversee the departments of rural development and urban development, agricultural marketing, revenue, industries, and land and building. The departments of public works, power, Delhi Jal Board, and irrigation and flood control will be looked after by the standing committee on public utilities and civic amenities. The Delhi assembly has so far constituted 18 house committees, while 17 more will be formed soon. Officials said two committees – one for the welfare of transgenders and another for senior citizens – are being formed for the first time.New Delhi: Delhi Assembly Speaker Vijender Gupta on Wednesday formed department-related standing committees in the house, giving representation to the legislators from both BJP (the party in office) and AAP. While former minister and Bijwasan MLA Kailash Gahlot will chair the standing committee on administrative matters, Gandhi Nagar legislator and a minister in Sheila Dikshit govt, Arvinder Singh Lovely, has been appointed to head the health panel. Former chief minister and Kalkaji MLA Atishi has been named to the panel on administrative matters.While Model Town legislator Ashok Goel will head the standing committee on finance and transport, Rajendra Nagar MLA Umang Bajaj will chair the education panel. Former Congress minister and Mangolpuri MLA Raj Kumar Chauhan has been named as the chairperson of the committee on development. Matiala MLA Sandeep Sehrawat will head the panel on public utilities and civic amenities, and Najafgarh MLA Neelam Pehalwan will chair the welfare committee.According to officials, as per the provisions laid down under Rule 244A, each standing committee shall comprise no more than nine members. They added that the committees will oversee specific departments as detailed in the sixth schedule, which may be amended by the Speaker from time to time.The standing committees of the Delhi legislative assembly play a vital role in strengthening legislative oversight. “Their key functions include examining and recommending reforms aligned with the policies approved by the house, reviewing demands for grants of the respective departments without proposing cut motions, and scrutinising bills referred to them by the house or the Speaker,” the assembly secretariat said in a statement.“Additionally, the committees are tasked with reviewing annual reports and policy documents of the concerned departments and undertaking inquiries into matters of public importance, thereby ensuring transparency, accountability, and effective governance,” it added.The committee on administrative matters will oversee the departments of administrative reforms, services, vigilance, general administration, and law, justice and legislative affairs, among others. The departments of finance, trade and taxes, excise, planning, transport, and tourism will fall under the committee on finance and transport. The education committee will oversee tasks related to school education, higher education, and technical education, as well as art, culture, and sports.The standing committee on welfare will exercise legislative oversight over social welfare, labour, employment, food and supplies, and home departments. The health panel will oversee medical and public health, family welfare, the directorate of health services, and food safety. The standing committee on development will oversee the departments of rural development and urban development, agricultural marketing, revenue, industries, and land and building. The departments of public works, power, Delhi Jal Board, and irrigation and flood control will be looked after by the standing committee on public utilities and civic amenities. The Delhi assembly has so far constituted 18 house committees, while 17 more will be formed soon. Officials said two committees – one for the welfare of transgenders and another for senior citizens – are being formed for the first time.
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