- The recent Winter Session of Parliament witnessed frequent disruptions, leading to a loss of over 40% of scheduled working hours and productivity falling to 55% in Lok Sabha & 42% in Rajya Sabha.
Issues in Parliamentary Functioning
- Low Productivity: Lok Sabha at 55% and Rajya Sabha at 42%.
- Disruptions Impacting Time: 65 hours and 15 minutes lost in Lok Sabha due to disruptions.
- Parliamentary Decay: Disruptions normalised due to weak enforcement of rules and reliance on adjournments.
- Lack of Discipline: Speakers avoid strict actions like expulsions to maintain consensus.
- Political Friction: Mutual distrust and hostility impede cooperation critical for democratic functioning.
- Decline in Debates: Disruptions overshadow meaningful discussions, degrading the quality of debates.
- Media Perception: Focus on televised confrontations, reducing focus on legislative contributions.
Impacts of Parliamentary Disruptions
- Legislative Delays: Winter Session 2024 saw key bills rushed without scrutiny, while others were stalled, weakening oversight.
- Neglect of Public Issues: Less than 20% of time was spent on debates over unemployment and farmers’ distress.
- Economic Costs: Disruptions cost over ₹2.5 crore per day in wasted taxpayer money.
- Weakened Democracy: Productivity fell to 55% in Lok Sabha and 42% in Rajya Sabha, against the historical 100% average.
- Loss of Private Members’ Voice: Only one Private Members’ Bill was discussed.
- Bad Precedents: Walkouts and adjournments risk normalising disorder in future sessions.
- Diminished Public Expectations: 60% voters prioritise MPs’ constituency work over parliamentary.
Way Forward
- Strengthen Committee System: Empower parliamentary committees to examine Bills, budgets, and policies in detail before debates.
- Enforce Discipline & Attendance: Implement rules to ensure MPs’ regular attendance and active participation in debates.
- Capacity Building: Conduct orientation programs, research support, and briefings to enhance MPs’ legislative understanding.
- Use technology: For real-time access to Bills, data, and research to improve informed discussions.
Persistent disruptions and partisanship have weakened Parliament’s role in debate, scrutiny, and accountability. ARC recommends stronger committees, MP training, and disciplined proceedings to restore credibility and focus on national interest.
Reference: The Hindu
PMF IAS Pathfinder for Mains – Question 293
Q. A decline in the productivity of Parliament due to frequent disruptions impairs its ability to perform duties effectively. In this context, discuss the causes and suggest the measures to strengthen democracy. (250 Words) (15 Marks)
Approach
- Introduction: Write briefly about the parliament and mention its winter 2024 productivity.
- Body: Discuss the causes of the decline in the productivity of parliament, its implications on democracy and suggest measures to strengthen democracy.
- Conclusion: Emphasis on strengthening dialogue, accountability, and sittings is vital to restore its effectiveness and public trust.
