Individual Parliamentarian’s role as the national law maker is on a decline, which in turn, has adversely impacted the quality of debates and their outcome. Discuss.

Rising concerns over the quality of legislative process

(1) declining sittings

(2) Rising efficiency, declining discussions eg. 60% bills passed in just 2 weeks (17th Lok Sabha)

(3) Budget discussion time – ≈ 80% budget eg. SHANTI bill walk out.

(4.) Committee referrals - declining

(5.) loss of working hours → 60-70

Causes (1) Political lack of will for constructive debates (2) Populism over principled dissent (3) Government control on schedule → minimal time given to opposition → (4) Allegations over speakers role → selective cutting of speeches, mic off (5) Absence of political discipline → No action of ethics committee (lack of power) against disorder (6) Citizen Apathy → No public uproar over declining quality.

Consequence

(1) Public distrust in a pillar of democracy → rising opacity in legislative process. (2) Unethical precedence for future leaders (3) Hasty legislations → future backlash e.g. 3 farm bill protests (4) Antithetical to representative democracy → long term value erosion (5) Rise in ordinance route → revival of ordinance raj.

Way ahead

(1) Create a calender → minimum sittings + floor to opposition (UK best practise) (2) Strengthen ethics committee (3) Ensure speaker impartiality (4) Informal sittings → generate legislative consensus (5) Pre-legislative consultation