Committee on Local Bodies

Punjab Assembly Committee on Local Bodies of Punjab Legislative Assembly is constituted annually for a one-year period from among the members of the Assembly. This Committee consists of thirteen members. The chairperson and the members are appointed by the Punjab Assembly speaker. In 2021, Punjab Assembly 'Committee Local Bodies and Panchayati Raj Institutions' has been split into committees, namely 'Committee on Local Bodies' and 'Committee on Panchayati Raj Institutions'.

The purpose of the committee is to do a Legislative oversight of the Local Bodies and institutions in Punjab state. The committee also conducts surveys and inspections to observe, inspect and collect information on the work done by the local bodies. It also monitors the work of the Punjab Pollution Control Board.

Overview
The speaker appoints the committees as per the powers conferred by Article 208 of the Constitution of India read with section 32 of the States Re-organisation Act, 1956 (37 of 1956), and in pursuance of Rules 232(1) and 2(b) of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in the Punjab Vidhan Sabha (Punjab Legislative Assembly).

According to the Punjab Government Gazette, 2021 the functions of the committee are defined below. "(1) There shall be a Committee on Local Bodies consisting of not more than thirteen Members for the examination of the working of the Local Bodies which Shall mean and include Notified Area Committees, Municipal Committees, Improvement Trusts and Municipal Corporations. (2) The committee shall be nominated by the Speaker and the term of office of the Members of the Committee shall be one year.

The functions of the Committee shall be
 * Functions of the Committee


 * (a) to examine the audit reports and accounts of the Local Bodies as may be selected by the Committee;
 * (b) to examine the reports, if any, of the Examiner, Local Fund Accounts laid on the Table of the House;
 * (c) to examine in the context of autonomy, whether affairs of the Local Bodies are being managed in accordance with the provisions of law;
 * (d) to examine any other aspect of the working of any Local Body, as may be referred to it by the Speaker.
 * (e) to examine the annual technical inspection reports of the Comptroller and Auditor General on Urban Local Bodies, if any, laid on the Table of the House.

Provided that the Committee shall not examine and investigate any of the following, namely :-
 * (i) matters of major Government policy as distinct from the working of the Local Bodies;
 * (ii) matters relating to day-to-day administration of Local Bodies; and
 * (iii) matters for the consideration of which machinery is established by any special statute under which the Local Bodies are established."

Current members
For the one-year period starting May 2022, the Committee on Local Bodies of 16th Punjab Assembly had following members: