PMO Asks Lok Sabha Not To Take Questions On 'PM Relief Fund, PM CARES And Defence Fund'; Cites Rules: Report

According to the reports by the Indian Express, the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) has issued a notice to the Lok Sabha Secretariat that queries related to the PM CARES Fund, the Prime Minister's National Relief Fund and the National Defence fund must not be taken in the parliament under existing rules.

According to reports, the PMO conveyed its position on January 30, stating that queries and discussions related to these three funds are not admissible under specific rules governing the conduct of business in the Lok Sabha.

Why questions on these funds are not allowed?

The PMO reportedly cited Rule 41(2)(viii) and Rule 41(2)(xvii) of the Lok Sabha's Rules of Procedure. These provisions restrict questions that do not directly fall under the primary responsibility of the Government of India or are related to bodies not primarily accountable to it.

The reasoning given was that the PM CARES Fund, PMNRF and NDF are built entirely from voluntary public contributions and not from the Consolidated Fund of India, which is the government's main account for public spending.

Because these funds are not financed through government budget allocations, the PMO said matters related to them may not fall within the scope of parliamentary questioning.

The communication also suggested that these rules may be applied whenever questions or notices seeking information about the funds are submitted for consideration in Parliament.

Understanding the three funds:

The PM CARES Fund was created in March 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic to provide relief during emergencies and distress situations. It was set up as a public charitable trust and registered under the Registration Act in New Delhi. According to official data, the fund had a balance of over ₹6,200 crore at the end of March 2023, based on the latest available financial report.

The government has previously told the Delhi High Court that the PM CARES Fund is a public charitable trust and not a body created under the Constitution or any law passed by Parliament. It also stated that the trust is not owned or controlled by the government, and therefore does not fall under the definition of a public authority under the Right to Information (RTI) Act.

In 2020, the Supreme Court declined a request to transfer money from the PM CARES Fund to the National Disaster Response Fund, stating that both funds serve different purposes and operate separately. The court also noted that while the National Disaster Response Fund is audited by the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG), the PM CARES Fund, being a public charitable trust, does not come under the same audit framework.

The Prime Minister's National Relief Fund, established in 1948, was initially created to help people displaced during the partition of India. Today, it is mainly used to provide immediate relief to families affected by natural disasters, major accidents and riots.

The National Defence Fund, on the other hand, supports the welfare of members of the armed forces and their dependents.

It is managed by an executive committee headed by the Prime Minister, with the defence, finance and home ministers serving as members.

The PMO's communication has once again highlighted the unique status of these funds and their functioning outside the traditional government budget framework.

While authorities maintain that the funds are supported by voluntary contributions and serve public welfare purposes, questions about transparency and parliamentary oversight continue to be debated in political and public circles.

(Inputs taken from Indian Express)