News- Raghav Chadha raised the idea of introducing Right to Recall in Parliament and sparked fresh debate on electoral reform.
About Right to Recall
- Right to Recall is a mechanism that empowers voters to remove an elected representative before the completion of the term.
- It is a process initiated by the electorate through a petition or a specific voting procedure, rather than by a legislative body or a court.
- Grounds: Voters can call for recall if representative are found to be non-performing, corrupt, or unresponsive to the needs of the constituency.
Legal Status in India
- Local Level: Several states have implemented RTR for local bodies (Panchayats and Municipalities), including Madhya Pradesh (the first state to do so), Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Haryana, Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh.
- National & State Level: There is no provision for recalling Members of Parliament (MPs) or Members of Legislative Assemblies (MLAs).
Historical Evolution
- The concept traces back to the Vedic idea of Rajdharma.
- In 1944, M.N. Roy proposed a system including right to elect and recall.
- The Constituent Assembly discussed it, but Dr. B.R. Ambedkar rejected it due to fear of instability.
- In 1974, Jayaprakash Narayan supported it during the Total Revolution movement.
Other Tools for Direct Democracy
- Referendum: A procedure where a proposed law or significant issue (like a constitutional amendment) is referred to the electorate for a direct “Yes” or “No” vote. In India, historical referendums occurred in Sikkim (1975) to join the Indian Union.
- Initiative: A process allowing citizens to propose a new law or constitutional amendment by gathering a specific number of signatures on a petition. Countries like Switzerland frequently use this tool.
- Plebiscite: Typically used to obtain the opinion of the people on an issue of public importance, such as territorial disputes or independence. Unlike a referendum, it is often used for non-legislative matters.
