Re: [HumJanenge] National Advisory Council (NAC) of India: What it is and what it should be?

Ha the constitutionality of NAC bben challenged in any Court of Law,on a variety of grounds,including the one under Art 14?

Can any political party start an NGO,by whatever name,and seek State funding,of course,citing reasons loftier than those done to establish NAC?

How has most expensive State property been kept at the diusposal of NAC?

Is every aspect of it(NAC),like selection of personnel(members/staff) covered by Art 14? Is Artv 16,too,applicable as the institution runs on State funding?

Some smart RTI legal hand could find innumerable loopholes/queries and seek responses to set the record straight,and enlighten the nation.

Lots of shady activities of a variety of politicos have remained shrouded in mystery.Time the veil was taken off and reality brought forth for the cleare know of the general public.

spm 

On Sun, Sep 18, 2011 at 11:18 PM, arun gurtoo <agurtoo@hotmail.com> wrote:

such extra constitutional bodies can never be good for the development of our democracy. it is drafting and debating bills is the domain of the parliament. no wonder our parliamentarians r busy enriching themselves 

---

Date: Thu, 15 Sep 2011 09:56:49 +0530
From: mk.singhal@yahoo.co.in
Subject: [HumJanenge] National Advisory Council (NAC) of India: What it is and what it should be?
To:

National Advisory Council (NAC) of India: What it is and what it should be?

The National Advisory Council (NAC) of India is an advisory body set up to monitor the implementation of the UPA government's manifesto, the Common Minimum Programme(CMP). It is also informally called as UPA's Planning Commission for social agenda. It is a brainchild of Congress party president, Sonia Gandhi who is also it's chairperson  and hence holds the status of a cabinet minister. The members of this council are nominated by PM in consultation with the NAC chairperson. The funds for the functioning of this council are provided from the budgetary allocation for the Prime Minister's Office. The NAC has often been criticized by opposition parties and scholars as not in keeping with India's constitution, and that it is actually an alternative, unelected cabinet. 

Thus, in its present form, it is an advisory council that seeks to involve citizen groups in the planning and monitoring of govt schemes at govt cost. Since the ruling party head is NAC head and all NAC members are selected and appointed by PM and NAC head, NAC actually only tries to reinforce govt views in the garb of citizen views.

In my opinion, the idea to have NAC as an advisory body for planning and monitoring of govt schemes (including laws) is very good. But it's constitution needs to be changed so as not to have political party heads and their chosen members but to have well known social workers like Anna and others as it's head and other members and to let them give their free, frank and unbiased suggestions on the various laws that the govt may have framed or may be contemplating to frame and on the desirable planning and monitoring of projects. The NAC could naturally hold seminars etc, get research studies carried our as necessary and hold referendum, as necessary before firming its views in any matter which should then emerge as the real citizen's views in any matter.

Reader views are invited on this subject.

This could form the basis for citizen participation in governmental activities.