Source: The post Parliamentary Functioning has been created, based on the article “Story of another washout” published in “The Indian Express” on 29th August 2025. Parliamentary Functioning.
UPSC Syllabus Topic: GS Paper 2-Governance
Context: Parliament is the supreme deliberative body of Indian democracy. However, recent sessions, including the Monsoon Session, have witnessed repeated disruptions, adjournments, and passage of bills without discussion.
Causes of Parliamentary Washouts
- Partisan Standoffs: Ruling party’s reluctance to engage with the Opposition, while the Opposition resorts to protests and repeated points of order.
- Erosion of Deliberative Space: Business Advisory Committee (BAC) functioning reduced to formality. Important bills are frequently pushed through without achieving consensus on the floor of the House.
- Rushing Legislation: Important bills such as the Digital Personal Data Protection Bill, Online Gaming Bill, and Taxation Laws Bill were passed without discussion.
- Weak Backchannel Negotiations: Decline in informal government–Opposition dialogue, which is crucial for smooth functioning.
- Misuse of Parliamentary Rules: Frequent rejection of opposition notices for short-duration discussions under Rule 193 or adjournment motions.
Consequences
- Democratic Deficit: Parliament becomes a mere “bill factory” rather than a forum for debate and scrutiny.
- Decline in Accountability: Ministers escape questioning on governance failures; Opposition voices muted.
- Poor Quality Legislation: Laws passed without adequate debate often face constitutional or practical challenges later.
- Public Distrust: Citizens lose faith in Parliament as a space for genuine representation of their concerns.
- Weakening of Committees: Parliamentary committees, especially Joint Parliamentary Committees (JPCs), dominated by the ruling coalition, reduce credibility.
Way Forward
- Institutionalising Dialogue: Restore regular all-party meetings and strengthen BAC’s independent role.
- Mandating Minimum Discussion: Require at least a fixed number of hours of debate per bill before passage.
- Strengthening Committees: Empower JPCs and Standing Committees with greater independence and binding recommendations.
- Rule Reforms: Ensure fair use of adjournment motions and points of order without diluting parliamentary productivity.
- Cultural Change in Politics: Shift from confrontation to consensus-building through norms of parliamentary civility.
- Public Accountability: Televising committee meetings, publishing legislative impact assessments, and penalising repeated disruptions.
Question: Frequent washouts of Parliament sessions undermine democracy. Discuss the causes, consequences, and reforms needed.
