A Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) is set up by the Parliament for a special purpose, like for the detailed scrutiny of a subject or Bill. It has members from both the Houses and from both the ruling parties and the opposition. Members of the JPC are decided by the Parliament. There is no fixed number of members in the committee. It is dissolved after its term ends or its task has been completed. The recommendations made by the committee are in recommendatory in nature not binding on the government. Powers of the committee: A JPC can obtain evidence of experts, public bodies, associations, individuals or interested parties suo motu or on requests made by them. If a witness fails to appear before a JPC in response to summons, his conduct constitutes a contempt of the House. Ministers are not generally called by the committees to give evidence. However, with the permission of the Speaker, the JPC can seek information on certain points from ministers and call the ministers.