Deliberate Disruptions in Parliament and State Assemblies

Context

Recently, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla voiced his concerns over the growing trends of deliberate disruptions in Parliament and State Assemblies, describing them as adverse to the spirit of democracy.

Key Highlights

• Parliamentary disruptions have become a routine issue in India, raising issues about legislative productivity, governance, and democratic accountability.
• It has witnessed disruptions since the early decades of independence, but the frequency and intensity have grown in the last three decades. 
• The 1970s and 1980s noticed occasional disruptions over significant issues along with the Emergency (1975-77) and financial regulations.
• However, the 1990s marked a turning point, with coalition politics leading to common disruptions and strategic obstructionism.
• State assemblies of West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, and Karnataka Legislative have all confronted extreme disruptions, on occasion leading to bodily altercations amongst members.

Data on Legislative Productivity

• Reduced Sitting Days: For example, the 16th Lok Sabha (2014-2019) had 331 sitting days, the lowest for any full-term Lok Sabha.
• Decreased Working Hours: The Winter Session of 2024 exemplified this trend:​
  • Lok Sabha: Functioned for most effective 52% of its scheduled time. ​
  • Rajya Sabha: Operated at 39% performance. ​
• Frequent Disruptions: For instance, at some point of the Winter Session of 2024, the Lok Sabha misplaced over 65 hours because of interruptions. ​
• Impact on Question Hour: In the Winter Session of 2024:​
  • Rajya Sabha: Question Hour was non-purposeful for 15 out of nineteen days.​
  • Lok Sabha: It did not feature for more than 10 mins on 12 out of 20 days. ​
• Legislative Backlog: During the Winter Session of 2024, only one bill, the Bharatiya Vayuyan Vidheyak, 2024, was surpassed, marking the bottom legislative output within the ultimate six Lok Sabha terms. ​

Causes of Disruptions

• Political Strategies and Protest Culture: Sometimes political parties use disruptions strategically to avoid debates on touchy issues.
• Contentious Issues and Lack of Consensus: Key policy subjects along with financial reforms, minority rights, and constitutional amendments regularly result in walkouts and protests.
• Weak Enforcement of Rules: Rules of process in Parliament and State Assemblies provide mechanisms to govern disruptions, but enforcement is regularly weak.
• Media Attention and Public Perception: Lawmakers once in a while use disruptions as a tactic to gain visibility in the media.
• Decline in Constructive Debate: There is a substantial decline in structured debates, with disruptions replacing meaningful discussions.
• Ethnic & Regional Issues: Issues inclusive of caste-based rules, federal conflicts, and local needs often result in disruptions.
• Suspension of MPs: Several sessions noticed mass suspensions of MPs, similarly intensifying political standoffs.

Impact of Disruptions

• Legislative Paralysis: Frequent disruptions result in the suspension or delay of essential bills and policies.
• Erosion of Public Trust: Citizens lose religion in legislative institutions while lawmakers interact in disorderly conduct.
• Economic and Administrative Costs: Wastage of taxpayers’ money due to unproductive parliamentary classes.

Key Reforms to Minimize Disruptions in Parliament & State Assemblies

• Stricter Enforcement of Rules: Implementation of Rule 374A (Lok Sabha) and Rule 255 (Rajya Sabha) to droop members accomplishing disorderly conduct.
• Code of Conduct for Legislators: Proposals for a mandatory code of conduct that penalizes repeated disruptions.
• Increased Use of Technology: Live monitoring and documentation of disruptions to keep members accountable.

Source: The Hindu

UPSC Mains Practice Question

Q. Rajya Sabha has been transformed from a ‘useless stepney tyre’ to the most useful supporting organ in past few decades. Highlight the factors as well as the areas in which this transformation could be visible.(2020)

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