NEWS  The gradual deterioration in Parliament’s functioning has to be stopped if it is to fulfil its constitutional mandate.

CONTEXT

• The Budget session of the Parliament ended two weeks ahead of the original plan, as many political leaders are busy campaigning for the forthcoming State Assembly elections. 
• Last year also sessions of the Parliament were hampered because of Covid-19 epidemics. The fiscal year 2020-­21 saw the Lok Sabha sitting for 34 days (and the Rajya Sabha for 33), the lowest ever. 
• Since, the Parliament is a crucial organ of the government responsible for scrutiny and responsibility, there is a need for it to adopt remote working and technological solutions, as several other countries have done.

CONCERNS

Functioning of the Parliament for the shorter duration of the day is resulting in the following issues:

• It is resulting in absence of careful scrutiny of Bills. 
• During the session, 13 Bills were introduced and not even one of them was referred to a parliamentary committee for examination. 
• Many important bills like the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (Amendment) Bill, 2021, for the change in governance of Delhi and Mines, Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Bill 2021 to remove end ­use restrictions on mines and ease conditions for captive mines, National Bank for Financing Infrastructure and Development (NaBFID) Bill, 2021 — to create a new government infrastructure finance institution and permit private ones in this sector were passed within a few days. This quick work is a sign of abdication by Parliament of its duty to scrutinise Bills rather than as a sign of efficiency.
• There has been a decline in the number of the bills sent to committees. The percentage of Bills referred to committees have declined from 60% and 71% in the 14th Lok Sabha (2004­-09) and the 15th Lok Sabha, respectively, to 27% in the 16th Lok Sabha and just 11% in the current one.
• In the last few years there has been dubious practice of marking Bills as ‘Money Bills’. The Finance Bills, over the last few years, have contained several unconnected items such as restructuring of tribunals, introduction of electoral bonds, and amendments to the foreign contribution act. This bypasses the Rajya Sabha as over money bill Rajya Sabha cannot make any amendments, and has only recommendatory powers.
• In the present Budget session, Lok Sabha had listed the budget of just five Ministries for detailed discussion and discussed only three of these. 76% of the total Budget was approved without any discussion.
• In the current Lok sabha office the Deputy speaker, which is mandated by law is missing.

WAY FORWARD

• Deterioration in Parliament’s functioning is not a recent phenomenon. There has been manipulation of the rules even in the past to bypass Parliamentary accountability.
• But some things have improved over the last few years. Most Bills being discussed in the House have had less disruptions. 
• However, the scrutiny of Bills has suffered as they are not being referred to committees. 
• In order to fulfill constitutional functions of the Parliament its functioning needs to be improved.
• This can be done through creating a system of research support to Members of Parliament, providing sufficient time for MPs to examine issues and also making the requirement that all Bills and budgets are examined by committees and public feedback is taken.

Reference:

1. https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/lead/dormant-parliament-fading-business/article34173052.ece