It's been a long break since my previous blog. I will be clubbing more than one points I mentioned in my Part II of this blog series, and try to conclude the series in the next couple of blogs. I will be using the acronym ER for elected representatives in this & subsequent articles.
Establish an electoral process to recall an elected representative (ER) in the event of non performance, criminal offence, etc.
Why is this necessary? How do we achieve this? Is it pragmatic? Does it violate any fundamental structure of the constitution? These & many more questions may run thru' our minds when we think of recalling an ER. Firstly, & most importantly, is it possible at all to enact & empower the Constitution to put in place such a process? Let me begin by saying that the role of an ER is primarily a job role in a Parliamentary Democratic System. Just like any other job role in the Government or private sector, which calls for its own required qualifications & selection processes, the job role of an ER also calls for certain basic qualifications in - education, intellectual maturity, vision for the Nation, past achievements, clean criminal record, etc. It is important to realise that in a Democracy, the ERs do not have, or, not entrusted with "ABSOLUTE POWER". The ERs are bestowed with only as much power as is required to carry out & ensure smooth functioning of a Democratic society by ensuring strict execution & enforcement of law & order, equity, justice, progress, & development. To achieve these objectives, the ERs have been entrusted with certain powers which comes with any other job role. The only difference between the power that comes naturally with any job role & that of an ER is that the ER's powers & responsibilities are Constitutional in nature. Having been entrusted with Constitutional powers, it calls for robust processes & systems in place to ensure these Constitutional powers are not misused & also ensure transparency of the office of the public servant, when subjected to public scrutiny. Having such systems in place by empowering the Constitution only ensures that no individual, irrespective of their roles in a Parliamentary Democratic System, whether a MLA, MP, the Prime Minister, or even the President, is supra Constitutional. It is to be borne in mind that each & every role of a public servant - a Civil Servant, an ER, the PM, or the President, is only to uphold the supremacy of the Constitution and the Institutions, by ensuring proper administration of governance, equity, law & order, and justice, in a Democratic society. Hence, it is of paramount importance to have a process to recall an ER in the event of non performance, criminal offence, etc., just as a person is terminated from his / her job or services for non-performance, criminal record, unbecoming character, etc. Empowering the Constitution in institutionalising the process of recalling an ER will go a long way in building true leaders, which is the most important need for India. Such a process will attract best minds (who are motivated to shoulder responsibilities & have a dream, a vision for the Nation) into Government services thru' the electoral process. This one step can also build better accountability into the office of an ER, make the role more transparent, & build character.
Strengthen the parliamentary democracy system by mandating the compulsory completion of a Government's term & abolish the whip system.
Since 1989, we have been seeing a host of coalation Governments both @ the Center & also the States. This is a dramatic shift from the norm we had gotten used to until then - a single party majority @ the State & Center. Albeit it has brought a greater degree of dynamism into our Democratic system, it is important to recognize the pitfalls too. The fall of the first Government (the famous 13 day Government) of Atal Behari Vajpayee, for want of just one vote to prove majority in the Parliament, is a case in point. Also, we have to note that what we are witnessing is not a 2 or 3 party coalation @ the Center, but, 13 party coalation & 25 party coalation, with one major national party & the rest all being minority regional partners. Some of these regional parties win sufficient representation from their respective States & are quite strong at the negotiation table. This leads to a highly vulnerable Central Government (not withstanding the "common minimum programmes & agendas"), when there arises a difference in opinion with a coalation partner. In such an event, if a single regional party with sizeable representation pulls out its support, it leads to the fall of the Government. Although in such an event the Government is given an opportunity to prove majority on the floor of the house, it makes not much difference. This is because of the horse trading that happens to save the Government (which is against the very fundamental character of Democracy), & also because such a Government cannot govern assertively. This kind of Government is more prone to attack from vested interests because it has been rendered weak & ineffectual to govern. Mandating completion of the term ensures administration of governance & also eliminates the unnecessary expenditure of resources in conducting elections. It also eliminates horse trading. This act also empowers the Government to continue administration of governance. This cannot be achieved without eliminating the "whip system". We have seen how various parties issue whips barring their MLAs & MPs from voting for an issue or a vote of confidence. The "whip system" is against the very spirit of Democracy. It defeats the fundamental Democratic values for which the Nation stands - FREEDOM & INDEPENDENCE. A person or ER belonging to a particular party (mainly the opposition) should be free to vote for an issue or vote of confidence, if in his judgement he feels it is in the best interest of the Nation. No barriers should stop an ER from voting for / against an issue or vote of confidence, just because he is in the opposition benches & not the treasury. Likewise, an ER belonging to the treasury benches should be empowered to vote against his own Government on an issue or vote of confidence if he is not convinced of the National interests being safeguarded. Such reforms will strengthen our Parliamentary system & makes it robust and resilient from within. It helps build consensus by encouraging open debates within the Government & also on the floor of the house. It makes governance & National interests as the only priorities for the continuance of any Government in office. Most importantly, it makes our ERs responsible & accountable when they vote for or against an issue / vote of confidence based on their judgement of safeguarding National interests & administration of governance.
No comments:
Post a Comment