Pranab urges end to disruptions in Parliament, Assemblies

President Pranab Mukherjee on Friday expressed concern over repeated disruptions of proceedings in Parliament and State Legislative Assemblies.

According to Mukherjee, the time devoted by Parliamentarians and Legislators has been steadily declining with repeated disruptions hampering proper functioning of the Parliament and Legislative Assemblies.

Pointing out that “divergence of views” is the “fundamental principle of democracy”, the President maintained: “The role of the Opposition is to oppose, depose if possible and also to expose. But not disrupt.”

Primary obejective “The cardinal principle of effective functioning of the Parliamentary system is that majority will rule and minority will oppose, expose if possible, (and) depose. However, minority has to accept the decisions of the majority, while the majority has to express the views of the minority,” Mukherjee said while addressing the valedictory session of the platinum jubilee celebrations of the West Bengal Legislative Assembly.

More Working Days According to him, Parliamentary practices “comprise of three D’s – debate, dissent and decision.” But a fourth D – disruption, is the recent addition.

“Dissent should be expressed with decency and within the contours and parameters of Parliamentary devices,” Mukherjee said.

The President, meanwhile, pointed out that there were just 332 sittings of the 14{+t}{+h} Lok Sabha (between 2004 and 2009). Only 247 Bills were passed during this period. During 952-57, this number stood at 677, with 319 Bills being passed.

Similarly, in West Bengal, the first Legisative Assembly (between 1952-57) sat for 326 days and it had come down to 231 in case of the 14{+t}{+h} Legislative Assembly.

Impact democracy “The Presiding Officers Conferences have time and again reiterated the need for holding a minimum 100 days of sittings every year. I accept that the number of Parliamentary Committees has been set up and they are doing good work, but the number of days the session of the House is held should be increased,” he said.

The responsibility, according to Mukherje, entrusted on the public representatives – that include the MLAs and MPs of both Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha — is to frame laws for the people in the country. Failure to fulfil such responsibilities will only impact the democratic set-up in the country.

“It must always be kept in mind that each one of us is here because we solicited their votes and received their endorsements. It will not be proper if we do not work for the people,” he said.

> abhishek.l@thehindu.co.in