Day 26 – Q 1.Examine the significance of parliamentary debates in a representative democracy like India. Would you agree that the standards of Indian Parliament as the temple of democracy has declined in the recent years? Critically examine.

1. Examine the significance of parliamentary debates in a representative democracy like India. Would you agree that the standards of Indian Parliament as the temple of democracy has declined in the recent years? Critically examine.      

भारत जैसे प्रतिनिधि लोकतंत्र में संसदीय बहसों के महत्व का परीक्षण करें। क्या आप सहमत होंगे कि हाल के वर्षों में लोकतंत्र के मंदिर के रूप में भारतीय संसद के मानकों में गिरावट आई है? समालोचनात्मक जांच करें।

Introduction:

As an institution, Parliament is central to the very idea of democracy and was assigned a pivotal role in our Constitution by the founding fathers of the republic. Parliament is responsible for legislation—laws of the land—by which people govern themselves. It must ensure accountability of governments—on policies or actions—to the people. It should engage in discourse and debate on issues that concern the nation and the citizens.

Body

Significance of parliamentary debates

• These debates provide a forum for MPs to express their opinions and concerns, and contribute towards making policy.
• It allows parliamentarians to voice the interest of the people of their constituencies.
• Scrutinising, overseeing and holding government accountable: one of parliament’s main roles is to examine, check and challenge the work of government through questioning Ministers and debating over it.
• Better policy formulation.
• Diverse views.
• Assist in informed decision making.

Indian Parliament as the temple of democracy has declined in the recent years

There are three designated roles for Parliament in a democracy. It is responsible for legislation—laws of the land—by which people govern themselves. It must ensure accountability of governments—on policies or actions—to the people. It should engage in discourse and debate on issues that concern the nation and the citizens. 

• There are mainly two reasons for this decline. Parliament does not meet or work long enough. And there are institutional constraints on its performance while working.

TLP Phase 1 – Day 26 Synopsis

• Incomes and assets apart, the criminalization of politics is a reality. ADR, Association for Democratic Reforms, reports that 34% of the MPs in the 2014 Lok Sabha faced criminal charges, as compared with 30% in 2009 and 24% in 2004.
• There are institutional constraints on the performance of MPs as well. The allocation of time for MPs to speak is proportional to the strength of their political party in the house and its leadership decides who gets to speak and for how long. The speaker of the Lok Sabha or the chairman of the Rajya Sabha have little discretion in the matter. The only other opportunities for MPs are during question hour or zero hour.In zero hour, the speaker or the chairman have the discretion to invite an MP to speak, but time is too little and speeches are often drowned out in pandemonium
• In India, the anti-defection law stipulates that a three-line whip can be violated only if more than one-third of a party’s MPs do so. This is the unintended consequence of a law that might have mitigated one problem but created another, which is emasculating our Parliament as an institution.
• The excruciatingly slow process of legislating big policy decisions, with months and even years of acrimonious stalemate in parliament, interspersed by the all too rare breakthrough. This has led to two consequences. First, it leaves the government of the day scrambling to eke out executive decisions that will not require parliament’s sanction. And More importantly, it creates a vacuum in governance that has increasingly been filled by an activist judiciary.
• Even the Supreme Court has felt compelled to get involved in such micromanagement as stipulating measures for garbage disposal and cleanliness in housing colonies; settling parking rates and restricting the use of loudspeakers and firecrackers during festivals.
• This forfeiture of what is rightfully the role of the legislature disturbs the balance of powers between it and the other pillars of the constitution. It is thus no surprise that many have begun to wonder aloud about the relevance of parliament.

Conclusion

The founding fathers of Indian Constitution adopted Parliamentary system of government by considering the fact that it will be more suitable to India’s pluralism and heterogeneity character. But at present healthy debate and discussions, the hall mark of Parliamentary democracy, was overshadowed by disruption, confrontation, forced adjournment of the houses and adopting other non-democratic alternatives.

In order to restore the values of Parliamentary democracy it is essential as well as urgent to concentrate on the following measures:

• Devoting most of the time for quality debates and discussions,
• falling attendance in the Parliament should be controlled, 
• Members should shun their party affiliation while dealing with issues affecting the common man and the nation, 
• Strict enforcement of Code of Conduct for people’s representatives.

In order to keep the values of our parliamentary democracy we should elect only morally trained representatives; and the members of the Parliament and State Assemblies should set themselves as an example for the public, especially the youth.