Disruptions in Parliament and State Assemblies

Syllabus: GS2/Polity & Governance

Context

• Recently, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla voiced his concerns over the growing trend of deliberate disruptions in Parliament and State Assemblies, describing them as detrimental to the spirit of democracy.

About the Parliamentary & Legislative Disruptions

• Parliamentary disruptions have become a recurring issue in India, raising concerns about legislative productivity, governance, and democratic accountability.
• It has witnessed disruptions since the early decades of independence, but the frequency and intensity have grown in the last three decades. 
• The 1970s and 1980s saw occasional disruptions over significant issues such as the Emergency (1975-77) and economic policies.
• However, the 1990s marked a turning point, with coalition politics leading to frequent disruptions and strategic obstructionism.
• State assemblies of West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, and Karnataka Legislative have all faced intense disruptions, sometimes leading to physical altercations among members.

Data on Legislative Productivity

• Reduced Sitting Days: For instance, the 16th Lok Sabha (2014-2019)had 331 sitting days, the lowest for any full-term Lok Sabha.
  • The Monsoon Session of Parliament (2021)  with the Lok Sabha functioning for only 21% of its scheduled time and the Rajya Sabha for 28%.
• Decreased Working Hours: The Winter Session of 2024 exemplified this trend:​
  • Lok Sabha: Functioned for only 52% of its scheduled time. ​
  • Rajya Sabha: Operated at 39% efficiency. ​
• Frequent Disruptions: For example, during the Winter Session of 2024, the Lok Sabha lost over 65 hours due to interruptions. ​
• Impact on Question Hour: In the Winter Session of 2024:​
  • Rajya Sabha: Question Hour was non-functional for 15 out of 19 days.​
  • Lok Sabha: It did not function for more than 10 minutes on 12 out of 20 days. ​
• Legislative Backlog: During the Winter Session of 2024, only one bill, the Bharatiya Vayuyan Vidheyak, 2024, was passed, marking the lowest legislative output in the last six Lok Sabha terms. ​

Causes of Disruptions

• Political Strategies and Protest Culture: Sometimes political parties use disruptions strategically to avoid debates on sensitive issues.
• Contentious Issues and Lack of Consensus: Key policy matters such as economic reforms, minority rights, and constitutional amendments frequently lead to walkouts and protests.
  • The lack of dialogue and willingness to reach a consensus exacerbates the problem.
  • Laws like Farm Bills (2020), Citizenship Amendment Act (2019), and GST rollout (2017) triggered walkouts and protests.
• Weak Enforcement of Rules: Rules of procedure in Parliament and State Assemblies provide mechanisms to control disruptions, but enforcement is often weak.
  • Presiding officers (Speaker, Chairman) have limited power to penalize members who deliberately stall proceedings.
• Media Attention and Public Perception: Lawmakers sometimes use disruptions as a tactic to gain visibility in the media.
  • Public sentiment on critical issues often fuels disruptions, as parties attempt to showcase their commitment to popular causes.
• Decline in Constructive Debate: There is a noticeable decline in structured debates, with disruptions replacing meaningful discussions.
  • Parliamentary Question Hour and Zero Hour, meant for deliberations, are frequently disrupted.
• Ethnic & Regional Issues: Issues such as caste-based policies, federal conflicts, and regional demands often lead to disruptions.
• Suspension of MPs: Several sessions saw mass suspensions of MPs, further intensifying political standoffs.

Impact of Disruptions

• Legislative Paralysis: Frequent disruptions result in the suspension or delay of crucial bills and policies.
  • Important budgetary discussions and debates on national security are affected.
• Erosion of Public Trust: Citizens lose faith in legislative institutions when lawmakers engage in disorderly conduct.
  • Voter disillusionment may lead to apathy in democratic participation.
• Economic and Administrative Costs: Wastage of taxpayers’ money due to unproductive parliamentary sessions.
  • Administrative delays in implementing key laws and policies.

Key Reforms to Minimize Disruptions in Parliament & State Assemblies

• Stricter Enforcement of Rules: Implementation of Rule 374A (Lok Sabha) and Rule 255 (Rajya Sabha) to suspend members engaging in disorderly conduct.
  • Introduction of clear guidelines to prevent unnecessary adjournments due to disruptions.
• Code of Conduct for Legislators: Proposals for a mandatory code of conduct that penalizes repeated disruptions.
  • Establishment of a Parliamentary Conduct Committee to review disruptions and recommend actions.
• Increased Use of Technology: Live tracking and documentation of disruptions to hold members accountable.
  • Digital screens displaying names of those disrupting proceedings.

Other Possible Solutions

• Institutional Reforms: Ensure greater autonomy for presiding officers to take disciplinary actions.
  • Set up an independent parliamentary ethics committee.
• Encouraging Dialogue and Consensus-Building: Pre-legislative consultations between ruling and opposition parties.
  • Use of mediation committees to resolve disputes before parliamentary sessions.
  • Constitution Club to serve as a platform for informal discussions and policy dialogues, fostering democratic discourse and thoughtfulness.
• Public Accountability Measures: Introduce a disruption-tracking mechanism where citizens can monitor unproductive hours.
  • Encourage media coverage that promotes debate rather than highlighting theatrics.
• Reforming the Zero Hour & Question Hour: Providing structured debate slots to the opposition can reduce the need for disruptions as a means of protest.
• Revisiting the Anti-Defection Law: The misuse of the anti-defection law to curb dissent within parties has forced many legislators to express their views through disruption rather than constructive dissent.

Source: TH