Committee on Public Petitions

This consists of ten members nominated by the Committee of Selection. The duty of this Committee is to consider the petitions sent by the public and referred to it by the Parliament and to report back to the Parliament its opinion on the action to be taken in respect of such petitions. This Committee has the power to summon before it and question any person, call for and examine any paper, book, record or other document and to have access to stores and property.

Procedure of forwarding a petition to the Committee on Public Petitions in accordance with Standing Orders

S.O. No. 25 A - PETITIONS

(1)	Every petition to Parliament shall be addressed to Mr. Speaker and shall be presented by a member.
(2)	Every petition shall be in respectful language and shall not contain irrelevant statements.
(3)	Every petition shall be clear and legible and shall conclude with a prayer reciting the relief sought.
(4)	Every petition shall be signed by the petitioner, or petitioners except in case of incapacity by sickness. A person unable to write shall affix his mark in the presence of a witness. The full name and address of every signatory to a petition shall be set out therein.
(5)	No letters, affidavits or other documents shall be attached to any petition.
(6)	No reference shall be made in a petition to any debate in Parliament.
(7)	It shall not be competent for a member to present a petition from himself but the same may be presented by some other member.
(8)	Every petition shall, before it is presented, be signed at the beginning thereof by the member in charge of it and deposited at least two clear days with the Secretary General who shall submit it to Mr. Speaker for approval and no petition shall be presented until it has been so approved.
(9)	A member presenting a petition shall confine himself to a statement in the following form :- Mr. Speaker, I present a petition from ............................... (Name of Petitioner) of ............................... and ............................... others No debate shall be permitted on this statement.
(10)	A petition having been presented to Parliament shall stand referred to the Committee on Public Petitions.