Not Old Habits in New House, please – on functioning of parliament

Source: The post is based on the article “Not Old Habits in New House, please – Resources and changes in Constitution can help strengthen Parliament but key is for legislature to respect it as a forum for debate” published in The Times of India on 18^th September 2023.

Syllabus: GS 2 – Indian Polity – Parliament and State Legislatures—Structure, Functioning, Conduct of Business, Powers & Privileges and Issues Arising out of these.

Relevance: measures required for effective functioning of the Parliament

News: The special five-day Parliament session starting today will prioritize passing new laws and will not include a Question Hour.

What is the purpose of the special session of Parliament?

The government plans to seek Parliament’s approval for five bills, including three contentious ones on election commissioners, a new postal law, and press registration.

The session will also bid farewell to the old Parliament building. MPs will reflect on the Parliament’s 75-year history, identifying institutional changes for its future strengthening.

Moreover, legislatures are essential for shaping a country’s future through debate, as they are often called the “grand inquest of the nation.”

According to former Lok Sabha MP Somnath Chatterjee, Parliament’s true greatness lies in the quality of its debates, not its physical structure.

Thus, securing and enhancing the deliberative aspect of our Parliament requires both resources and constitutional changes.

What can be done to strengthen the nature of our Parliament?

Increasing the Budget: With the government’s budget at ₹45 lakh crore and Lok Sabha’s at just ₹850 crore, a substantial budget boost for both Houses is necessary to enhance the intellectual knowledge base for high-quality parliamentary debates.

Improving Research Quality: A 2019 parliamentary panel report highlighted a decline in research quality and the lack of proper research support for MPs. The report recommended hiring domain experts to support the work of parliamentary committees.

Improving the Functioning of the Parliamentary Committee: India’s parliamentary committee system needs to evolve from isolation.

The National Commission for Reviewing the Constitution, established during Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s tenure, identified the need for a specialized parliamentary Committee on National Economy for major economic matters.

India should also consider creating specialized committees like those in Sweden and Finland, such as one dedicated to constitutional issues.

Finland has a unique “Committee for the Future” that deals with long-term challenges and opportunities. India should consider establishing a similar committee to plan for its future.

Changing the Rules of Lok Sabhya and Rajya Sabha: Rules in Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha should be updated to address challenges like the Covid pandemic. Many national legislatures worldwide switched to electronic or hybrid modes to continue their work during pandemic restrictions.

Changing the Sessions of the Parliament: India’s Parliament is seen as part-time, with the government determining session schedules. However, given India’s size and governance challenges, there’s a rising demand for year-round parliamentary sessions.

This extended time would promote greater deliberation, consensus-building, and discussions on national issues.

Evaluating Role of MPs: MPs are viewed as part-time lawmakers and full-time problem solvers for their voters. However, the anti-defection law limits their ability to express independent views during legislative duties.

Hence, constitutional changes are essential to abolish this law and create an independent process for convening Parliament, enabling more debate time.

Must Read: The new Parliament House: More than a building and Functioning of Parliament: Challenges and way forward – Explained

What lies ahead?

MPs must acknowledge that our rich parliamentary history can guide the future.

While increased resources, rule adjustments, and constitutional changes can help, a fundamental shift in mindset is also crucial for transforming the parliamentary system.