Vice President’s address on “Importance of Legislatures” suggested a 10 point deed to guarantee effective working of legislatures in the country. This charter was to sustain people’s faith in democracy.
Briefly:
- All members are responsible as whole to make sure that business of house is carried out smoothly and functions effectively. Quorum is not inevitably the responsibility of ruling party.
- Judiciary ought not to exceed its obligation and territory of working as the balance of power gets disturbed if too much of judicial overreach is there.
- Research and quality of debate are what the legislators should focus on. Hence the need of the hour is to strengthen the same.
- Houses should ensure to function for more number of days.
- Members to be provided with more research and better support to reach for quality debate.
Facts and Figures:
- First Lok Sabha- 677 sitting and passed 319 Bills during 1952-57
- 14th Lok Sabha- 332 sitting and 247 Bills during 2004-09.
- 15th Lok Saha- 357 sittings and 181 Bills.
Analysis:
- Generally, opposition would disrupt the house and when in ruling they want smooth running of house.
- However, it’s the legislators’ duty on floor of house to ask themselves if they are performing as per their status, as per people’s expectations and as per constitution’s demand.
- Frequent disruptions of the house lead to erosion of people’s faith in their leaders and democracy.
- Thus public is of that opinion that the parliament and the committees work only when the house is in session.
- On the other hand the expert research studies of the parliamentary committees and their findings are just recommendatory in nature and thus most of the time not taken seriously by government.
- Thus, the World’s largest democracy should find a scientific measurement for the effectiveness and productivity of legislature through amending/resolving the prevailing problems of number of sittings, bills passed, bills held up, members’ participation, duration of debate on each bill, quality of debates and range of issues of public interest debated, extent of disruptions, reports of Committees submitted and such others.
- Finally, there is a need to bring a solution to the ‘menace’ of members rushing towards the presiding officer’s podium. This can be resolved only by bringing specific provisions in the rules of business for “automatic suspension” of those who do so.
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