Leaders of all political parties today unanimously decided to set up a permanent parliamentary committee to look into the recurring complaints of misuse of privileges and facilities by MPs. The committee would also lay down rules of conduct and guidelines for MPs as well as standing committee members.

Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee, who called today’s all-party meeting, said: “Instead of an ad hoc committee, the members felt an institutional arrangement was needed. Therefore, a committee will be formed and guidelines laid down on all issues of misuse and misconduct.”

However, the specific composition and purview of the committee would be decided by the Speaker later. It would have members representating all political parties. Apart from the Katara case, Chatterjee said: “The leaders also discussed the misuse of passports and some other complaints from family members of MPs.”

But by broadening the purpose of the committee both the Speaker and the government seem to have given in to the BJP’s opposition to referring the Katara case to the Ethics Committee or any other ad hoc disciplinary committee. At an earlier meeting, the main opposition party had insisted that all cases of irregularities and misconduct pending against MPs be opened and probed by the parliamentary panel.

The fact that Lok Sabha Ethics Committee Chairman and former Prime Minister Chandrashekhar “is indisposed” also prompted the leaders to go for an alternative panel.

“The panel will also probe cases of misuse of official residence and spouse passes by members as also the conflict of interest in relation to standing committees,” a government source said. MPs becoming members of certain standing committee despite having business interest in the same sector would also be looked into.