The Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) has clearly told the Lok Sabha Secretariat that no questions or matters related to the PM CARES Fund can be raised in Parliament. The PMO said that under Lok Sabha rules, questions cannot be asked on subjects that are not directly the responsibility of the government. The Congress party has called this move “authoritarian.”
The PMO has issued clear instructions to the Lok Sabha Secretariat regarding the PM CARES Fund. It said that no questions or issues related to the PM CARES Fund, the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund (PMNRF), and the National Defence Fund (NDF) can be raised in the Lok Sabha. The Congress party has strongly opposed this decision.
According to reports, the PMO gave this information on January 30. The PMO said that all three funds are made entirely from voluntary public donations. No money from the Consolidated Fund of India is used in them. Therefore, these funds are not under the direct control or responsibility of the government.
The PMO said that according to Lok Sabha rules, questions cannot be raised on subjects that are not the direct responsibility of the government. The PMO referred specifically to Lok Sabha Rules 41(2)(viii) and 41(2)(xvii). These rules say that questions should not be asked on matters that are not of primary concern to the Government of India or related to organisations or persons not directly accountable to the government.
It was also stated that if any MP tries to seek information about these funds through questions, Zero Hour notices, or Special Mentions, the requests can be rejected based on these rules.
Opposition Calls It Authoritarian
After the decision came out, the opposition called it authoritarian and an insult to Parliament. Congress said it is an attack on the rights of MPs. In a post on X, the party said that MPs will not be allowed to ask questions in Parliament about the PM CARES Fund, PMNRF, and NDF. The party also claimed that the PMO directly instructed the Lok Sabha Secretariat to ensure that no member raises questions about these funds.
Congress raised several questions. It asked why MPs, who are public representatives, are being stopped from asking questions in public interest. The party questioned why the government does not want to give an account of large public donations and what it is trying to hide from the people. It also asked whether Parliament will now run according to the Prime Minister’s wishes.
What Are These Funds and How Were They Created?
PM CARES Fund
The PM CARES Fund was started on March 27, 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic. It is a public charitable trust that collects donations for emergency help. It was registered under the Trust Deed Registration Act, 1908. By the end of 2022-23, it had about ₹6,283 crore. The government has said many times that it is not created under the Constitution or any law but is a trust. The Prime Minister and some ministers are trustees, but it is not covered under the RTI Act. In 2020, the Supreme Court said it is separate from the NDRF.
Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund (PMNRF)
This fund was started in January 1948. It was first created to help people displaced from Pakistan. Now it is used to give immediate relief to families affected by natural disasters such as floods, cyclones, earthquakes, major accidents, and riots. It also runs on voluntary donations.
National Defence Fund (NDF)
This fund supports members of the armed forces, paramilitary forces, and their families. It is managed by a committee headed by the Prime Minister, with the Defence, Finance, and Home Ministers as members. It is also mainly based on donations.
Earlier Controversies
Since its creation, the PM CARES Fund has faced questions about transparency. Many people have asked why such a large fund is not audited by Parliament or the CAG. In 2020, the Supreme Court rejected a demand to transfer money from PM CARES to the NDRF. Large donations were also received from PSU companies, but the government has always maintained that it is not a government fund but a charitable trust.
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