Tags:
Journalism of Courage
With a resolution now certain to be adopted for setting up a joint parliamentary committee to inquire into the allocation of 2G spectrum,Parliament can be expected to return to its normal schedule. Yet,the shadow of the winter session will stretch over the budget session,and a return to normal business will not be enough. Indias demo-cracy draws sustenance from its legislature,and it would be entirely in order for the two Houses to at least debate the measures required to prevent Parliaments collective strength from being overcome by a partisan deadlock.
The legislature is not a static institution and to remain dynamic it needs to constantly update its rules and procedures. That spirit of renewal is breezing through many established democracies. A bill introduced in Britains House of Commons seeks to fix the date of the general election to a particular day in May every five years,thereby taking away a prime ministers prerogative to call elections,and requiring a two-thirds vote to dissolve the House before its term ends. Another bill aims to redraw constituencies so that they are more equal in size,and also to put to referendum the option of an alternative vote (that is,to mark ones second preference). In the US,the Senate has recently discussed ways to limit the uses of filibuster.
Every system responds to its needs,and here in India suggestions are varied. Vice President (and Rajya Sabha Chairperson) Hamid Ansari has hinted at the stifling of debate by the Anti-Defection Act. Other recommendations suggested include changing Parliaments schedule to start with Zero Hour (thereby allowing MPs to vent their views),giving a relatively large minority in the House the right to register its point,and to have a registry of interests for full disclosure. Parliament has been weakened by the stand-off of the winter session,and MPs must show their collective interest in reversing this set-back by finding ways to vitalise the institution.
