Indian Parliament in Transition: A Perspective (2004-2021)

S Y Surendra Kumar

doi:10.53989/jcp.v2i3.23.surendra

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Journal of Contemporary Politics

DOI: 10.53989/jcp.v2i3.23.surendra

Year: 2023, Volume: 2, Issue: 3, Pages: 88-96

Original Article

Indian Parliament in Transition: A Perspective (2004-2021)

S Y Surendra Kumar ^{✉ 1}

1 Professor, Department of Political Science, Bangalore University, Jnana Bharathi Campus, Bangalore, 560056

Corresponding author ✉: [email protected]

Received Date:08 May 2023, Accepted Date:11 July 2023, Published Date:28 August 2023

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Abstract

India has been successful in sustaining the ethos and functioning of parliamentary democracy for more than 70 years, which is undoubtedly an achievement. India’s experiment with parliamentary democracy has succeeded in influencing its neighbours to endorse such a form of democracy. However, since the past few decades, the functioning of the Indian Parliament has been witnessing a transformation in terms of its composition; the number of parliamentary sittings held and the time spent; debates and the passing of bills; issue of ordinances; increasing disruption of sessions and so on. This article attempts to critically analyse the performance of the Indian Parliament since 2004 onwards and the way forward. If effective measures are not initiated to prevent the decline in its functioning, it would not only lead to the failure of the institutions of democracy, but democracy itself.

Keywords

Parliament, India, South Asia, Disruption, Bills, Democracy

References

Paranjpe S. Development of order in South Asia: Towards a South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation Parliament. Contemporary South Asia. 2002;11(3):345–356. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1080/0958493032000057762
Amin J. Regional Integration in South Asia: Reflections on EC/EU Paradigm. Foreign Policy of India: Continuity and Change. .
Kumar S. Stability and Growth in South Asia. (pp. p. xvii) New Delhi. IDSA and Pentagon Press. 2014.
Rubinoff A. The Decline of India’s Parliament. 1998.
Kashyap S. Nehru and Parliament. (pp. 8) New Delhi: Lok Sabha Secretariat. 1986.
Arthur Rubinoff op.cit.6, p.23. 1998.
Ibid, p. 2.
Sen R. House Matters: The BJP, Modi and Parliament. South Asia: Journal of South Asian Studies. 2015;38(4):776–790.
In parliament for first time, Narendra Modi leaves with a speech that Mixes Drama with substances. The Time of India. 2014;p. 1.
Shrivastava R. 92 nations in 55 month: PM Modi travel cost hit Rs. 2,021 cr. 2018. Available from: https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/92-nations-in-55-months-pm-modi-travel-costs-hit-rs-2021-crore-1419337-2018-12-29
Spary C. Performing ethnolinguistic Representation: A Study of Indian Parliamentary Ceremony and Ritual. 2010.
Association of Democratic Rights, (2009) 2009. Available from: https://adrindia.org/content/politics-rich-lok-sabha-mps-poor-india
16th Lok Sabha Richest in Indian History. 2014. Available from: http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-16th-lok-sabha-richest-in-indian-history-also-high-number-of-mps-with-criminal-charges-1989680
Association of Democratic Rights. 2019. Available from: https://adrindia.org/content/politics-rich-lok-sabha-mps-poor-india
1/3rd MPs have criminal records, 82 Percent are corerpatis. 2014. Available from: http://www.adrindia.org/media/adr-in-news/13rd-mps-have-criminal-records-82-cent-are-crorepatis-adr
Association of Democratic Rights, op.cit.16. 2019.
Mahendra P, Singh. The Decline of the Indian Parliament. India Review. 2015;41(3):364.
Madhukar CV, Roy C. Parliament needs to find its Voice. 2010. Available from: http://www.prsindia.org/media/articles-by-prs-team/parliament-needs-to-find-its-voice-1535/
Decline or Death of Parliament? 2009.
Kala M, Roy C. Rethinking the Functioning of Indian Parliament. PRS Legislative Research. 2013;p. 10.
CS. India’s Parliament turns 60. 2012. Available from: www.openthemagazine.come/article/nation/parliament-six-decade-of-decline.html
Mandira Kala and Chakshu Roy, op.cit.22. 2013.
Malik K, Kanwar S, Kanadje M. Vital Stats: Functioning of 16th Lok Sabha. PRS legislative research, 13 February. Available at. 2014;p. 10.
C.V. Madhukar and Chakshu Roy, op.cit. 20.
MPs suspended after mace protest. 2009. Available from: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/7830937.stm
Sen R. The Politics of Parliamentary Paralysis. The Hindu. 2015;p. 12.
Ibid.
Ibid.
Atal Bihari Vajpayee: Address. In: GCM., ed. Discipline and Decorum in Parliament and State Legislatures, All India Conference of Presiding Officers, Chief Ministers, Ministers of Parliament Affairs, Leaders and Whips of Parties. (pp. 14) Address. 2001.
Disrupting Rituals of Debate in the Indian Parliament. The Journal of Legislative Studies. 2010;16(3):345.
Spary C, Garimella R. Managing disruptions in the Indian parliament: interview with Mr Ravindra Garimella, Lok Sabha Secretariat, Parliament of India. Democratization. 2013;20(3):539–552.
Kusum Malik, Sanat Kanwar, Manish Kanadje, op.cit.25. 2019.
Disruptions have become a Disease: Somnath Chatterjee. 2007. Available from: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/India/Disruptions_have_become_a_disease_Somnath_Chatterjee/rssarticleshow/2356592.cms
Vishnu Padmanabhan, op.cit.33. 2012.
One of the least productive question hours of 16th Lok Sabha: Think Tank. 2019.
Kapur D, Mehta PB. The Indian Parliament as an Institution of Accountability. (pp. 42) Geneva. UN Research Institute of Social Development. 2006.
Heptullah N. Disagrees with Somnath Chatterjee Pulling Up MPs. 2009. Available from: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/India/Najma-Heptullah-disagrees-with-Somnath-Chatterjee-pulling-up-MPs/articleshow/4160435.cms
Carole Spary, op.cit. 32, p. 338. 2010.
17th Lok Sabha, Party Wise Representation of Members. 2019. Available from: https://loksabha.nic.in/members/PartyWiseStatisticalList.aspx
Ronojoy Sen, op.cit.28. 2015.
Suspension of 7 Congress MPs over the unruly behaviours in Parliament revoked. 2020. Available from: https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/lok-sabha-speaker-om-birla-revokes-suspension-of-7-congress-mps-1654390-2020-03-11
Ibid.
C V Madhukar and Chakshu Roy op.cit.20. 2010.
Mandira Kala and Chakshu Roy, op.cit.22, p.2. 2013.
Parliamentary crisis. The Statesman (Newspaper). 2015;p. 12. Available from: http://www.prsindia.org/media/articles-citing-prs/parliamentary-crisis-3925/
Mandira Kala and Chakshu Roy, op.cit. 22, p.3. 2013.
Mahendra Prasad Singh, op.cit. 19, p.369. 2015.
Wallack J. India's Parliament as a Representative Institution. India Review. 2008;7(2):91–114.
Vishnu Padmanabhan , op.cit. 33. 2012.
Mandira Kala and Chakshu Roy, op.cit. 22, p.2. 2013.
Winter Session: Most Bills were Passed, Introduced in Parliament in Ten Years. 2015. Available from: http://www.dnaindia.com/money/report-winter-session-most-bills-were-passed-introduced-in-parliament-in-ten-years-2159089
Mandira Kala and Chakshu Roy, op.cit. 22, p.2. 2013.
The Economic and Political Weekly. 2009.
The Statesman. 2015.
Kusum Malik, Sanat Kanwar, Manish Kanadje , op.cit.25. 2019.
Kanadje M, Ram AB. Parliamentary committees: increasing their effectiveness. PRS Legislative Research. 2019;p. 1.
Kusum Malik, Sanat Kanwar, Manish Kanadje , op.cit.25. 2019.
Manish Kanadje and Anya Bharat Ram, op.cit.58, p.5. 2019.
Ibid.
Geroge VK. Why are Parliamentary Standing Committees necessary? 2019.
Rao S. Opposition slams government for delay in Parliamentary Panel formation. The Hindu (Bengaluru). 2019;p. 10.
Manish Kanadje and Anya Bharat Ram, op.cit.58, p21. 2019.
95 out of 244 MPS on parliament committees absent from all meetings. Poor Attendance in Parliamentary Panel Meetings”, Deccan Herald (Bengaluru). 2019;p. 1.
Devesh Kapur and Pratap Bhanu Mehta, op.cit.2, p.20. 2006.
Mandira Kala and Chakshu Roy, op.cit. 22, p.1. 2013.
Varun B Krishnan K, Deepalakshmi. MP Tacker: How did your parliamentarian fare in 16 Lok Sabha?”, 19 March. The Hindu (Bengaluru). 2019;p. 1.
Janardhana A. Private member' who reversed a trend of 40 yrs, Transgender rights bill get passed. The New Indian Express, 29 April. Available at. 2015;p. 10.
C.V. Madhukar and Chakshu Roy, op.cit.20. 2010.
Ibid.
Singh PM. 2006.
Statesman T. 2015.
Charan SS. Parliamentary Democracy in India- Looking at Recent Trends. 2020.

Copyright

12 February 2024

Year: 2023, Volume: 2, Issue: 3

Article Metrics

[1] Paranjpe S. Development of order in South Asia: Towards a South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation Parliament. Contemporary South Asia. 2002;11(3):345–356. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1080/0958493032000057762

[2] Amin J. Regional Integration in South Asia: Reflections on EC/EU Paradigm. Foreign Policy of India: Continuity and Change. .

[3] Kumar S. Stability and Growth in South Asia. (pp. p. xvii) New Delhi. IDSA and Pentagon Press. 2014.

[4] Rubinoff A. The Decline of India’s Parliament. 1998.

[5] Kashyap S. Nehru and Parliament. (pp. 8) New Delhi: Lok Sabha Secretariat. 1986.

[6] Arthur Rubinoff op.cit.6, p.23. 1998.

[7] Ibid, p. 2.

[8] Sen R. House Matters: The BJP, Modi and Parliament. South Asia: Journal of South Asian Studies. 2015;38(4):776–790.

[9] In parliament for first time, Narendra Modi leaves with a speech that Mixes Drama with substances. The Time of India. 2014;p. 1.

[10] Shrivastava R. 92 nations in 55 month: PM Modi travel cost hit Rs. 2,021 cr. 2018. Available from: https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/92-nations-in-55-months-pm-modi-travel-costs-hit-rs-2021-crore-1419337-2018-12-29

[11] Spary C. Performing ethnolinguistic Representation: A Study of Indian Parliamentary Ceremony and Ritual. 2010.

[12] Association of Democratic Rights, (2009) 2009. Available from: https://adrindia.org/content/politics-rich-lok-sabha-mps-poor-india

[13] 16th Lok Sabha Richest in Indian History. 2014. Available from: http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-16th-lok-sabha-richest-in-indian-history-also-high-number-of-mps-with-criminal-charges-1989680

[14] Association of Democratic Rights. 2019. Available from: https://adrindia.org/content/politics-rich-lok-sabha-mps-poor-india

[15] 1/3rd MPs have criminal records, 82 Percent are corerpatis. 2014. Available from: http://www.adrindia.org/media/adr-in-news/13rd-mps-have-criminal-records-82-cent-are-crorepatis-adr

[16] Association of Democratic Rights, op.cit.16. 2019.

[17] Mahendra P, Singh. The Decline of the Indian Parliament. India Review. 2015;41(3):364.

[18] Madhukar CV, Roy C. Parliament needs to find its Voice. 2010. Available from: http://www.prsindia.org/media/articles-by-prs-team/parliament-needs-to-find-its-voice-1535/

[19] Decline or Death of Parliament? 2009.

[20] Kala M, Roy C. Rethinking the Functioning of Indian Parliament. PRS Legislative Research. 2013;p. 10.

[21] CS. India’s Parliament turns 60. 2012. Available from: www.openthemagazine.come/article/nation/parliament-six-decade-of-decline.html

[22] Mandira Kala and Chakshu Roy, op.cit.22. 2013.

[23] Malik K, Kanwar S, Kanadje M. Vital Stats: Functioning of 16th Lok Sabha. PRS legislative research, 13 February. Available at. 2014;p. 10.

[24] C.V. Madhukar and Chakshu Roy, op.cit. 20.

[25] MPs suspended after mace protest. 2009. Available from: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/7830937.stm

[26] Sen R. The Politics of Parliamentary Paralysis. The Hindu. 2015;p. 12.

[27] Ibid.

[28] Ibid.

[29] Atal Bihari Vajpayee: Address. In: GCM., ed. Discipline and Decorum in Parliament and State Legislatures, All India Conference of Presiding Officers, Chief Ministers, Ministers of Parliament Affairs, Leaders and Whips of Parties. (pp. 14) Address. 2001.

[30] Disrupting Rituals of Debate in the Indian Parliament. The Journal of Legislative Studies. 2010;16(3):345.

[31] Spary C, Garimella R. Managing disruptions in the Indian parliament: interview with Mr Ravindra Garimella, Lok Sabha Secretariat, Parliament of India. Democratization. 2013;20(3):539–552.

[32] Kusum Malik, Sanat Kanwar, Manish Kanadje, op.cit.25. 2019.

[33] Disruptions have become a Disease: Somnath Chatterjee. 2007. Available from: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/India/Disruptions_have_become_a_disease_Somnath_Chatterjee/rssarticleshow/2356592.cms

[34] Vishnu Padmanabhan, op.cit.33. 2012.

[35] One of the least productive question hours of 16th Lok Sabha: Think Tank. 2019.

[36] Kapur D, Mehta PB. The Indian Parliament as an Institution of Accountability. (pp. 42) Geneva. UN Research Institute of Social Development. 2006.

[37] Heptullah N. Disagrees with Somnath Chatterjee Pulling Up MPs. 2009. Available from: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/India/Najma-Heptullah-disagrees-with-Somnath-Chatterjee-pulling-up-MPs/articleshow/4160435.cms

[38] Carole Spary, op.cit. 32, p. 338. 2010.

[39] 17th Lok Sabha, Party Wise Representation of Members. 2019. Available from: https://loksabha.nic.in/members/PartyWiseStatisticalList.aspx

[40] Ronojoy Sen, op.cit.28. 2015.

[41] Suspension of 7 Congress MPs over the unruly behaviours in Parliament revoked. 2020. Available from: https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/lok-sabha-speaker-om-birla-revokes-suspension-of-7-congress-mps-1654390-2020-03-11

[42] Ibid.

[43] C V Madhukar and Chakshu Roy op.cit.20. 2010.

[44] Mandira Kala and Chakshu Roy, op.cit.22, p.2. 2013.

[45] Parliamentary crisis. The Statesman (Newspaper). 2015;p. 12. Available from: http://www.prsindia.org/media/articles-citing-prs/parliamentary-crisis-3925/

[46] Mandira Kala and Chakshu Roy, op.cit. 22, p.3. 2013.

[47] Mahendra Prasad Singh, op.cit. 19, p.369. 2015.

[48] Wallack J. India's Parliament as a Representative Institution. India Review. 2008;7(2):91–114.

[49] Vishnu Padmanabhan , op.cit. 33. 2012.

[50] Mandira Kala and Chakshu Roy, op.cit. 22, p.2. 2013.

[51] Winter Session: Most Bills were Passed, Introduced in Parliament in Ten Years. 2015. Available from: http://www.dnaindia.com/money/report-winter-session-most-bills-were-passed-introduced-in-parliament-in-ten-years-2159089

[52] Mandira Kala and Chakshu Roy, op.cit. 22, p.2. 2013.

[53] The Economic and Political Weekly. 2009.

[54] The Statesman. 2015.

[55] Kusum Malik, Sanat Kanwar, Manish Kanadje , op.cit.25. 2019.

[56] Kanadje M, Ram AB. Parliamentary committees: increasing their effectiveness. PRS Legislative Research. 2019;p. 1.

[57] Kusum Malik, Sanat Kanwar, Manish Kanadje , op.cit.25. 2019.

[58] Manish Kanadje and Anya Bharat Ram, op.cit.58, p.5. 2019.

[59] Ibid.

[60] Geroge VK. Why are Parliamentary Standing Committees necessary? 2019.

[61] Rao S. Opposition slams government for delay in Parliamentary Panel formation. The Hindu (Bengaluru). 2019;p. 10.

[62] Manish Kanadje and Anya Bharat Ram, op.cit.58, p21. 2019.

[63] 95 out of 244 MPS on parliament committees absent from all meetings. Poor Attendance in Parliamentary Panel Meetings”, Deccan Herald (Bengaluru). 2019;p. 1.

[64] Devesh Kapur and Pratap Bhanu Mehta, op.cit.2, p.20. 2006.

[65] Mandira Kala and Chakshu Roy, op.cit. 22, p.1. 2013.

[66] Varun B Krishnan K, Deepalakshmi. MP Tacker: How did your parliamentarian fare in 16 Lok Sabha?”, 19 March. The Hindu (Bengaluru). 2019;p. 1.

[67] Janardhana A. Private member' who reversed a trend of 40 yrs, Transgender rights bill get passed. The New Indian Express, 29 April. Available at. 2015;p. 10.

[68] C.V. Madhukar and Chakshu Roy, op.cit.20. 2010.

[69] Ibid.

[70] Singh PM. 2006.

[71] Statesman T. 2015.

[72] Charan SS. Parliamentary Democracy in India- Looking at Recent Trends. 2020.

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Indian Parliament in Transition: A Perspective (2004-2021)

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