26 November,2010 06:50 AM IST | | Arindam Chaudhuri
In the past, I have vividly written on the topic of our parliament and parliamentarians, suggesting some much needed changes, including outsourcing Parliament (after 26/11), asking political parties to pave the way for educated youth, and criticising how our parliamentarians put their personal priorities above the national ones.
Be that as it may, the recent deadlock in our Parliament that lasted over eight long days has made me come up with a few more urgently-required and practicable measures.
These eight successive days of adjournment have cost the exchequer a staggering Rs 63 crores! In this whole winter session of Parliament, except for a couple of days, neither of the houses functioned normally. For the uninitiated, as per official figures cited in the media, the total budget for the two houses for 2010-11 is estimated to be around a whopping Rs 530 crores!
Our parliamentarians must put Rs 530 crores that we pay to run the Parliament to productive use
Such an irresponsible attitude by our parliamentarians not just wastes colossal amounts of public funds, but also delays many important bills that are awaiting their approval ufffd a few of them since many years. Nothing much can be expected from them as a majority of them are bereft of any education and a large number of them are hardened criminals who could make it to the Parliament by muscle and money power. But then, in the absence of any kind of refrain, these parliamentarians are holding not just the Parliament, but our nation to ransom.
It is high time that we set up a legally enforceable code of conduct, which makes it mandatory for these Parliamentarians to adhere to certain minimum expected standards. Non-adherence to the code could possibly result in penalties (monetary, non-monetary or both) and repetition of acts that go against the code could even result in legal action. As of now, Article 105(2), "no member of Parliament shall be liable to any proceeding in any court in respect of anything said or any vote given by him in Parliament or any committee thereof." This needs immediate amendment! Secondly, attendance and participation should be made compulsory.
Recently, the Russian Parliament passed a law to punish absent lawmakers. Same happens in Germany's Bundestag. In Israel, a member of Knesset is not allowed to miss a session without any valid reason. MPs in Ghana have to vacate their seat if they are absent without permission. In India, Election Commission and the apex court can play a pivotal role in ensuring effective functioning of our Parliament.
