ON SUBJECT COMMITTEES SECRETARIAT OF THE KERALA LEGISLATURE

The basic principle underlying in a parliamentary system of Government is executive accountability to the Legislature. Traditionally, following the pattern set by the British House of Commons the methods of securing accountability are through the established procedures of debates, questions, motions and statements by Ministers in the House. Modern Governments, it is well-known, have come to possess enormous powers both in the formulation of policies and in their execution, affecting a wide and complex range of State activities. In the Parliament democracy, procedural reform to enable members to discharge adequately their function of over-seeing administration has been a constant process. It is realised that only by improving its own instruments of scrutiny could a Legislature ensure effective accountability of the Executive. It was in this background that the Speaker of the Kerala Legislative Assembly appointed an all-party Committee of the Legislature on March 14, 1979 to consider and report on a system of Subject Committees. The Committee submitted its report within a short period of four months. The Rules Committee of the House examined the recommendations of the all-party Committee and proposed necessary amendments to the Rules. These amendments were got approved by the House. The Sixth Kerala Legislative Assembly has since constituted the Subject Committees—10 in number and they were inaugurated by the Speaker on Marc