Before casting your vote for any political party, it's important to scrutinise the performance of the Lok Sabha and its members before any general elections - K Srinivasan, Managing Editor, Presense (a Noted Web based Journal)

 

Like parent monitors his childrens marksheets and studies at school, its imperative to scrutinise the performance of the elected representatives to the Lok Sabha and the lower chamber itself before any general elections so as to enable voters to chose their preferred candidates to represent their constituencies in the India Parliament, says K Srinivasan, a distinguished Managing Editor of Presene, a web portal of over a decade and more standing in this leader in his journal. At TNA- Talk we are delighted to reproduce the same. Editor TNA Talk - Ashe N Ayer 

Unlocking the 17^th Lok Sabha: Triumphs and Challenges

By Prime Point Srinivasan, Managing Editor, Presense 

(Assessment of 17th Lok Sabha: mixed results, minimal sittings, legislative shortcomings, highlighting wins, and addressing challenges for future parliamentary efficiency.)

The 17th Lok Sabha functioned between June 2019 and February 2024 and has completed its full term. The Election Commission has announced the schedule for electing the 18th Lok Sabha. General elections will be held across the country in 7 phases during April and May 2024. The 18th Lok Sabha will be constituted in the first week of June 2024.

Despite the successful completion of the full term by the 17th Lok Sabha, there is a notable lack of discussion, both among the public and in the media, regarding its performance and the contributions made by the elected Members. Analogous to how we review the performance of our children monthly to improve their education, it is essential to assess the accomplishments and shortcomings of the Lok Sabha upon completion of its term. Before casting our votes, it is imperative to scrutinize the performance of the completed Lok Sabha and its Members.

In this editorial, we will evaluate the performance of the Lok Sabha from the Government's perspective, as they are responsible for running the Parliament. We will also examine the role of the Opposition in effectively running the Parliament. Additionally, a separate article in this edition will review the performance of MPs based on factors such as State, gender, party affiliation, and age.

 

Role of Parliament

Though the role of Parliament is not explicitly defined in any law, conventionally, it encompasses four main functions: (1) passing legislation, (2) approving the finance bill, (3) supervising the executive, and (4) discussing and finding solutions to problems related to constituencies, States, and the nation. Members are equipped with tools such as debates, Private Members' Bills, and questions to fulfil these functions. Through effective participation and under the guidance of the Speaker, Parliament serves the people effectively. As the largest democracy globally, the role of Parliament is paramount in ensuring smooth governance.

Sittings and Legislative Business

Graphics courtesy: PRS Legislative Research

The 17th Lok Sabha functioned for 88% of its scheduled time, holding 274 sittings over five years. This Lok Sabha set a record for the "least number of sittings among the full-term Lok Sabhas" in the post-Independence era. Out of the 15 sessions held, 11 were adjourned earlier than scheduled, resulting in the cancellation of 40 scheduled sittings. Even during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, 33 sittings were held. There is a significant gap of 57 sittings between the 16th and 17th Lok Sabhas. This decrease in sittings is reflected in the total participation of Members. Additionally, disruptions caused by opposition parties also contributed to the loss of time in Parliament, with 206 instances of MPs being suspended across both the Houses.

During the 17th Lok Sabha, 179 bills (excluding finance and appropriation bills) were passed. Of these, 58% were passed within two weeks of introduction, and 35% were passed with less than one hour of discussion. Remarkably, 80% of budgets were passed without any discussion, with the entire budget for 2023 being passed without debate. Several important bills, including new criminal laws, were passed in the absence of opposition members who were under suspension.  In September 2023, a Special Session was held in the New Parliament House making the beginning of future Sessions.

 

 

Role of Committees

Parliamentary Committees play a vital role in the legislative process. Members from all parties thoroughly discuss subjects and reach consensus decisions. Bills are referred to Committees for examination and refinement. However, in the 17th Lok Sabha, only 16% of bills were referred to Committees, compared to 60%, 71%, and 28% in the 14th, 15th, and 16th Lok Sabhas respectively. Examination by Committees and thorough discussions in Parliament are crucial to perfecting bills and withstanding scrutiny from the Supreme Court. The then Chief Justice of India, Justice N V Ramana, noted that when bills were  passed without scrutiny and discussion, it strained the court.

Private Members Bills (PMB)

Private Members' Bills allow Members to introduce legislation of national interest without permission from their party leadership. During the 17th Lok Sabha, 729 PMBs were introduced, with only 2 being discussed. This is the highest number among all the Lok Sabhas, except the 16th Lok Sabha, where 1116 PMBs were introduced. Additionally, only 3 out of 11 Private Members Resolutions were discussed during this Lok Sabha. PMBs often receive less priority due to their discussion typically being scheduled for Friday evenings. It is suggested that the Business Advisory Committee of the 18th Lok Sabha should consider moving PMB discussions to weekdays.

Questions

A total of 101,999 questions were raised during the 17th Lok Sabha, with an average of 195 per Member. Starred Questions receive oral answers from Ministers, while Unstarred Questions receive written replies. During the Question Hour, 60% of the scheduled time was used for oral responses, with 24% of listed questions being answered.

Election of Deputy Speaker

Parties by total duration (in days) of holding Deputy Speaker's Office

1,000

2,000

3,000

4,000

5,000

6,000

7,000

8,000

9,000

10,000

INC

BJP

AIADMK

APHLC

SAD

DMK

As per Article 93 of the Indian Constitution, the Deputy Speaker should be elected as early as possible. However, no Deputy Speaker was elected during the 17th Lok Sabha, making it the only Lok Sabha without one in the post-Independence era.

Conclusion

The 17th Lok Sabha, with its minimal sittings and lack of a Deputy Speaker, faced challenges in effectively conducting legislative business. Many significant Bills were passed without discussion, and only a fraction of the Bills were referred to Committees for scrutiny. Furthermore, disruptions by opposition parties added to the inefficiency. Both the Government and the opposition leaders must collaborate and strategize effectively to utilize Parliament's time for the nation's benefit.

Data courtesy: PRS Legislative Research, Delhi