India’s Parliamentary Proceedings

India’s Parliamentary Proceedings

In Context

The winter session of Parliament witnessed severe disruptions, leading to a significant loss in productive hours and highlighting the ongoing challenges faced by the institution. The low productivity rates in both Lok Sabha (approximately 54.5%) and Rajya Sabha (approximately 40%) have sparked concerns about the efficacy of India's parliamentary democracy.

Parliamentary Productivity

• Lok Sabha: Only 4 Bills were passed, with a productivity rate of 54.5%.

• Rajya Sabha: 3 Bills were passed, with a productivity rate of 40%. These figures point to a glaring issue: much of the time intended for legislative deliberation was wasted in disruptions, overshadowing the primary function of the Parliament—debate and lawmaking.

Major Reasons for Low Productivity

1. Decline of Parliamentary Civility: The deterioration of decorum in Parliament can be traced back to precedents set by previous sessions. The Speaker's reluctance to enforce rules, such as expelling unruly Members of Parliament (MPs), has allowed disruptions to become normalized. Instead of maintaining order and encouraging debate, Parliament often becomes a battleground for political points, undermining its core functions.

2. Acrimony Between Government and Opposition: The relationship between the government and the opposition has become increasingly toxic. Rather than functioning as constructive adversaries, both sides view each other as enemies. This partisan hostility makes cooperation difficult, further eroding the trust and collaborative spirit needed for meaningful legislative work.

3. Diminished Public Expectations: The focus of public expectation has shifted. Voters are no longer assessing MPs based on their ability to debate or pass laws. Instead, MPs are judged by their local influence, political maneuvering, and constituency services. This shift has led to a decrease in the motivation for MPs to engage in productive parliamentary work, with many preferring media confrontations over constructive debates.

4. Decline of Parliamentary Debate: The overall quality of debate in Parliament has deteriorated. Where parliamentary debates used to serve as a platform for deliberative and reasoned discussions, they are now often overshadowed by disruptions and theatrics. MPs seem more interested in grandstanding and media exposure than in engaging in substantive debate on important legislative matters.

Impact of Disruptions

The consequences of the current state of parliamentary proceedings are far-reaching:

1. Legislative Delays: Many important bills and reforms are either delayed or passed without adequate scrutiny. The legislative process becomes hurried or truncated, undermining the quality of governance and laws.

2. Loss of Time: Precious parliamentary hours are wasted, reducing productivity and delaying key decisions. This hampers the functioning of democracy and governance.

3. Neglected Public Issues: The lack of focus on meaningful debates means that pressing public issues, including economic, social, and healthcare matters, are often neglected. This undermines the core function of Parliament as the representative body of the people.

4. Economic Costs: Taxpayer money is wasted on non-productive parliamentary sessions, which, in turn, diminishes public trust in the system. The costs of running the parliamentary machinery, including salaries and infrastructure, continue to accrue without any meaningful output.

5. Weakened Democracy: The inability of Parliament to function as a space for deliberation and policy-making erodes public trust in the democratic system. It fosters a sense of alienation among citizens who feel their concerns are not being heard or addressed.

6. Delayed Policies: Reforms and policy measures that are essential for the country’s growth and development suffer significant delays, affecting sectors like education, healthcare, and infrastructure.

7. Lost Private Members' Voice: There is minimal focus on private members’ bills and resolutions. These bills, which are often proposed by opposition or independent MPs, represent significant policy ideas and perspectives but are usually sidelined due to the lack of attention and debate.

8. Bad Precedents: The normalization of disruptions sets a dangerous precedent. It undermines the authority of the Speaker and other parliamentary leaders, making it harder to restore discipline in the future. If disruptions continue without consequence, they will become ingrained in parliamentary culture.

Way Forward: Restoring Parliamentary Functioning

1. Restore Parliamentary Decorum: The first step towards improving parliamentary productivity is to restore decorum and discipline within Parliament. All political parties must recognize the importance of maintaining order and promoting respectful dialogue, even during heated debates. Speakers must also assert their authority to ensure disruptions are curtailed.

2. Improve Communication Between Government and Opposition: Both sides must work towards improving communication and cooperation. Open channels for constructive dialogue can help address concerns and find middle ground, ultimately facilitating the passage of important legislation.

3. Modernize Parliamentary Procedures: Given the challenges of the 21st century, it is necessary to modernize parliamentary procedures. This could include better use of technology, streamlining the legislative process, and addressing the needs of an increasingly diverse and vocal public.

4. Focus on Public Interest: MPs need to recalibrate their focus on the public interest rather than local or political concerns. Prioritizing pressing national issues such as economic reforms, healthcare, and education will help restore the credibility of the institution and demonstrate its relevance to citizens.

Conclusion

The sorry state of parliamentary proceedings in India is a reflection of a wider issue: the erosion of trust, discipline, and cooperation within the legislative body. Frequent disruptions and the decline in decorum are stalling legislative progress and diminishing the effectiveness of Parliament.

To ensure the health of Indian democracy, it is imperative to restore parliamentary decorum, improve cooperation between the government and opposition, modernize procedures, and focus on issues of national interest. Only through these efforts can Parliament fulfill its true role as a forum for constructive debate and policymaking.