Governance, TLP-UPSC Mains Answer Writing
Q. 1. How effective is the Indian Parliament in holding the executive accountable within the framework of constitutional checks and balances? (150 words, 10 marks)
Introduction
The Constitution (Art. 75) provides a parliamentary system where the executive stays accountable to the legislature. Parliament ensures essential checks and balances. As B.R. Ambedkar said, “The daily assessment of responsibility is the very essence of parliamentary government.”
Body
Parliament’s Control Over the Executive
- Question Hour & Zero Hour: Mechanisms to seek immediate answers from ministers on pressing issues. Example: In 2021, MPs questioned the government on vaccine shortages and border security lapses with China.
- Financial Powers (Art. 112–117): Parliament approves and monitors government spending through the budget process. Example: In 2020, Parliament scrutinised supplementary pandemic-related expenditure through the Budget process.
- Standing & Departmental Committees: Ensure detailed examination of policies and spending across subjects. Example: The PAC report on 2G spectrum allocation exposed serious lapses in oversight.
- Motions and Debates: Tools like no-confidence motions help challenge executive decisions and actions. Example: The Morarji Desai government resigned in 1979 after losing majority support.
- Legislative Control: Law making provides a platform to question and alter executive proposals. Example: The rollback of farm laws in 2021 followed intense debate inside and outside Parliament.
Challenges in Effective Oversight
- Disruptions: Recurrent walkouts and sloganeering cut into valuable discussion time and weaken Parliament’s ability to hold the executive to account. Example: PRS data (2023) showed that over 30% of Lok Sabha’s time was lost due to disruptions.
- Majoritarianism: When the ruling party enjoys a brute majority, debate and dissent are often overridden by sheer numbers. Example: The RTI Amendment Bill (2019) was passed with minimal scrutiny despite widespread concern
- Ordinance Route (Art. 123): The executive bypasses legislative scrutiny by issuing ordinances, weakening democratic accountability. Example: The three agriculture ordinances were introduced without prior parliamentary debate in 2020.
- Decline in Bill Referrals: Fewer bills are being sent to committees, reducing expert-driven scrutiny and bipartisan engagement. Example: Only ~12% of bills in the 17th Lok Sabha were referred to committees. Recommendations to Revive Parliamentary Oversight
- Fixed Parliamentary Calendar: Sessions should be scheduled annually in advance to reduce executive discretion, as recommended by the NCRWC.
- Independent Summoning Mechanism: The Punchhi Commission proposed reducing executive monopoly over summoning to strengthen parliamentary autonomy. 3. Mandatory Committee Review: The Rajya Sabha Secretariat has argued that important bills must be compulsorily referred to standing committees.
- Limit Scope of ADL: The 170th Law Commission recommended restricting Anti-Defection Law to no-confidence and money bills to allow debate.
- Neutral Speaker Role: The NCRWC advised transferring disqualification powers from the Speaker to an independent tribunal for impartiality.
Conclusion
Parliament is central to ensuring executive accountability, but it needs reforms to strengthen its role. As Paul Appleby said, “Accountability is the cornerstone of responsible government.” A strong Parliament safeguards both Constitution and citizens.
