The Sorry State of India’s Parliamentary Proceedings 

Syllabus: GS 2/Governance

In Context

• The recent winter session of Parliament was marred by significant disruptions, leading to a significant loss of productive time and a low overall productivity rate.

Parliament Productivity

• The frequent disruptions and lack of decorum raise concerns about the effectiveness of parliamentary democracy in India.
• Only 4 Bills passed in Lok Sabha and 3 Bills in Rajya Sabha.
  • The productivity of Lok Sabha was approximately 54.5%.
  • The productivity of Rajya Sabha was approximately 40%.

Major Reasons of Low Productivity

• Decline of Parliamentary Civility: The decline of decorum in Parliament is partly due to precedents set in the past.
  • The Speaker’s reluctance to enforce rules and expel unruly MPs has allowed disruptions to become a regular part of parliamentary proceedings.
• Acrimony Between Government and Opposition: The relationship between the government and the Opposition has become increasingly acrimonious.
  • Both sides view each other as enemies, rather than adversaries, making cooperation difficult and eroding the trust necessary for a functioning democracy.
• Diminished Public Expectations: Public expectations from MPs have shifted. Voters no longer primarily assess MPs based on their parliamentary performance, such as debating skills.
  • MPs are often judged by their local political influence and constituent services instead.
• Decline of Parliamentary Debate: The quality of debate in Parliament has deteriorated.
  • MPs now prioritize disruption over meaningful legislative debate. Parliamentary performance is often overshadowed by media appearances and televised confrontations.

Impact

• Legislative Delays: Important bills and policies are postponed or passed without proper discussion.
• Loss of Time: Precious hours are wasted, reducing overall productivity.
• Public Issues Neglected: Key concerns of citizens are not debated effectively.
• Economic Costs: Taxpayer money is wasted on non-productive sessions.
• Weakened Democracy: Reduces meaningful debates and erodes trust in Parliament.
• Delayed Policies: Essential reforms and governance suffer delays.
• Lost Private Members’ Voice: Minimal attention to private members’ bills and resolutions.
• Bad Precedents: Normalizes disruptions, weakening parliamentary decorum.

Way Forward

• Restore Parliamentary Decorum: All parties must prioritize restoring decorum and constructive dialogue within Parliament.
• Improve Communication: Enhanced communication and dialogue between the government and the Opposition are crucial to address concerns and find common ground.
• Modernize Parliamentary Procedures: Consider modernizing parliamentary procedures to enhance efficiency and address the challenges of the 21st century.
• Focus on Public Interest: Legislators must prioritize the public interest and focus on addressing pressing national issues.

Source:TH