Open Forum
New
Delhi, 11 January 2012
Role of Parliament
MIRROR IMAGE OF SOCIETY
By Dr.S.Saraswathi
(Former Director, ICSSR, New
Delhi)
The Indian Parliament has become
subject to severe criticism in recent weeks and years. Frequent disturbances by
its members causing disruption of proceedings and heated exchanges between them
forcing adjournments for several hours and even days at a stretch, have become
a rule rather than an exception. Even essential Bills have not been moved; many
are passed without debate and several hours of Parliament are lost without any
transaction.
The atmosphere in Parliament, directly
watched on television is remembered not for some outstanding speeches, which do
take place, but for frequent unruly scenes and crowding of the well of either
two Houses by members. In fact, the reputation of Parliament has declined so
drastically in the opinion of some critics, that the demand for the service rule
of “no work, no pay” being adopted for members is worth a consideration.
Let us remember that Indian Parliament
is a creation of the Constitution and not a growth over centuries as in Britain. It has
prescribed role and functions written into the Constitution. In the course of
six decades since its framing, one can perceive a number of changes in the
overall performance of Parliament that reflect changes in the political climate
in the country. Parliament is a mirror of the society and a replica of the
political culture prevailing in the country. What happens in Parliament is the audio-visual
expression of the thoughts and moods prevailing outside it.
Political experience since
independence helps people to become increasingly of public affairs, governance, administration,
political parties, other political organs and institutions, elections, etc.,
and as a result their expectations from parliamentarians inside and outside change,
along with their assessment of the performance of Parliament and its members.
Parliament members are not mere political
functionaries having a fixed set of political responsibilities in policy and
law making, but have to bear a wider social responsibility towards the people
of the nation. The health of the polity depends on how well this obligation is
discharged by the members of Parliament.
This is linked with the caliber of members and the standing of the
parties.
While the institution of Parliament has
come into existence mainly as a supreme law-making body, in the course of
history, it has accumulated many more functions in all democracies, including India. Thus, in
assessing its role, it is crucial to take into account its multifarious
functions and its overall impact. For, by activism within Parliament and taking
a negative role also, it has been possible for Parliament to stall what it
considers as anti-people policy.
Direct verbal and non-verbal
confrontation in Parliament is partly a result of an absence of prior
discussions among parties or an attempt to accommodate the other’s point of
view. A certain consensus among different parties is necessary for the smooth
functioning of any Government. A Parliament consisting of members subscribing
to totally antagonistic views prevailing in the society can hardly play a
constructive role. It will promote the vicious number game and the politics of
majority.
A major function of Parliament is the
control of the Executive. The
legislature is said to be the watchdog of the government, and the forum before
which the executive shall answer for its actions. It is in discharging this
role, that Parliament is facing difficulties. Former Prime Minister, Vajpayee,
had many times referred to this role of Parliament, and even lamented the
“failure of democracy”.
Various mechanisms such as budget
discussions, cut motions, question hour, adjournment motions, calling
attention, no-confidence motions, and raising discussions on various subjects
are available to Parliament to control the executive. Every member has a right
to use these instruments according to parliamentary procedure.
A point in case is the Public Accounts
Committee, which examines the report of the Comptroller and Auditor-General and
is headed by a member of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha. It is one of the main
instrumentalities of Parliament to hold the executive accountable for the
expenditure incurred by the Government. And, in recent times it has become very
active in the context of exposure of several scams.
Additionally, the quality of debates
depends on the quality of members and their capacity to deliberate on
issues. The quality of members rests on
the choice of political parties fielding candidates. Winning an election does not depend on a
candidate’s ability to be a good parliamentarian, that is, possessing knowledge,
ability, and sensitivity to understand and debate issues with conviction.
Rather, it requires the infamous “three M’s” – money, muscle power, and mafia –
according to many analysts. Criminal
background of some candidates and even elected members is an open secret
tarnishing the image of political career itself in India. As a result, there are ideal
parliamentarians who cannot win in any territorial constituency, and there are
incompetent MPs whose seats are safe.
Thus, in the first place, one may
draw a conclusion that there are only a few members, who are competent parliamentarians,
the rest being “yes men/women” for their parties. Many of the complex issues
that come before Parliament require sound knowledge of the subject matter and invariably
fail to interest the average members. This is one reason for heavy absenteeism
in Parliament unless crucial issues with potential to affect the credibility
and survival of the government are under discussion. These “yes members” are in many cases the
pillars of their parties providing funds, manpower, and vote banks.
This situation has also public
support in the fact that for most people, MPs and MLAs are not law-makers and
public servants with tremendous social responsibility, but are possible sources
of power and patronage to be cultivated in their own interest. They approach
them for getting extra-legal influence or help. Public relations in political
dictionary has, in fact, come to signify distribution of favours and these do
not come free. Thus, people play a substantial role in encouraging political
corruption. However, there are certainly exceptions in this vicious atmosphere.
For the members, the MPLAD Scheme (Members
of Parliament Local Area Development Scheme) opens opportunities for extending
patronage and increasing their local popularity. The scheme gives scope for the
parliamentarians to develop undue
interest in works that properly belong to various departments. No wonder, a
group of MPs have recently demanded “absolute freedom” in spending the funds
allotted under this scheme.
Unlike the MPs of the 1950s and
1960s who were mostly engrossed in parliamentary work, the members in recent
decades take extraordinary effort to nurse their constituencies and also groups
of supporters to maintain their clout and ensure re-election. Keeping close
contact with the constituency is not an unwelcome development provided it is
not mixed with undue patron-client relationship. The members have a far greater
role to play to ensure India’s
parliamentary democracy remains vibrant. ---INFA
(Copyright,
India News and Feature Alliance)
|