A Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) is an ad-hoc committee, a temporary body constituted by the Indian Parliament to investigate a specific matter of public importance or scrutinize complex legislation. It is a concept and mechanism of parliamentary oversight, not an act, institution, or constitutional provision. The JPC mechanism originated from the need for in-depth, bipartisan scrutiny of major controversies, with the first JPC formed in August 1987 to investigate the Bofors scandal. This mechanism was created to solve the problem of ensuring executive accountability and conducting detailed fact-finding beyond the routine floor debates.
A JPC is set up through a motion passed in one House and concurred with by the other, or by communication between the presiding officers of both Houses. Its operational framework is governed by the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business of the respective Houses. The committee consists of members from both the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha, with the conventional ratio being 2:1 in favour of the Lok Sabha. The JPC has extensive powers, including the authority to summon individuals, experts, or government officials to give evidence and demand the production of confidential documents. Once its task is complete, the JPC submits its report to Parliament and is then dissolved. The JPC's recommendations are advisory and not legally binding on the government.
The JPC connects to the broader system of parliamentary committees, differing from permanent bodies like the Department-Related Standing Committees. It is often constituted to investigate major financial irregularities, such as the Harshad Mehta Stock market scam (1992) and the 2G spectrum allocation case (2011), or to examine significant bills like the Personal Data Protection Bill (2019). Recently, a JPC was formed to examine the 'One Nation, One Election' proposal, scrutinizing the Constitution (129th Amendment) Bill, 2024. The fundamental nature of the JPC as an ad-hoc, investigative body has stayed the same, though its application continues to evolve with contemporary issues.