Perspective : All India Presiding Officers' Conference | 12 January, 2023

Summary

The 83rd All India Presiding Officers Conference in Jaipur discussed key themes for enhancing parliamentary democracy, including India's G20 leadership, effective legislative functioning, digital integration, and maintaining a harmonious relationship between the judiciary and legislature. The conference emphasized the need for more debate, public involvement, and technological utilization to strengthen laws and legislative bodies, while addressing concerns over disruptions and the decline in the quality of parliamentary discourse.

Takeaways

• 🏛️ The 83rd Conference of All India Presiding Officers focused on enhancing the effectiveness of Parliament and state legislatures, emphasizing the importance of India's G20 leadership and the integration of technology in legislative processes.
• 👥 The conference highlighted the need for a harmonious relationship between the legislature and the judiciary, in line with the spirit of the Constitution, and the importance of dialogue, discussion, and debate for effective functioning.
• 🚨 Concerns were raised over the increasing instances of disruption in legislative bodies, which affect the quality of parliamentary discourse and the time available for debate and discussion.
• 🗳️ The vice president emphasized the inviolability of the legislative sovereignty of Parliament and the need for substantial public contribution to make laws stronger and more effective.
• 📊 The discussion underscored the decline in the quality of discourse over the years and the importance of qualitative transformation in parliamentary debate.
• 🌐 The role of technology in connecting different legislative bodies and making them mutually dependent for the evolution of Indian parliamentary democracy was a key theme.
• 🤝 The conference stressed the importance of the relationship between the legislature and judiciary, with the parliament being supreme and having the mandate to discuss all aspects of the state, including the judiciary.
• 📝 The use of the National e-Vidhan application was highlighted as a tool to enhance the functioning of legislative bodies and to make them more accessible and transparent to the public.
• 📉 The decline in the number of bills sent to committees and the poor participation of members of parliament were identified as issues that need to be addressed to improve legislative processes.
• 📚 The role of the speaker in improving parliamentary debate and encouraging members to do their homework was emphasized, along with the need for the speaker to command moral authority.
• 🌟 The conference concluded with a call to Indianize democracy, drawing on India's rich history of legislatures and the need for the functioning of the parliament to reflect India's tradition, history, and legacy.

Q & A

What was the main focus of the 83rd Conference of All India Presiding Officers?

The conference focused on key themes such as India's leadership of G20, making Parliament and legislature more effective, the integration of stateless glaciers with digital Parliament, and maintaining a harmonious relationship between the legislature and the Judiciary.

What does the Vice President emphasize regarding the legislative sovereignty of Parliament?

The Vice President emphasized that the legislative sovereignty of Parliament is inviolable and underscored the importance of dialogue, discussion, and debate for the effective functioning of both the Parliament and other legislatures.

What concern was expressed by Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla regarding the legislative process?

Speaker Om Birla expressed concern over the shrinking time for debate and discussion in the house, which he believes affects the strength and effectiveness of laws.

How has the introduction of digital networks impacted the interconnectedness of legislative bodies in India?

The introduction of digital networks has interconnected legislative bodies across India, allowing for the sharing of information and making the legislative process more organic and mutually dependent.

What is the significance of the national e-Vidhan application in the context of legislative bodies?

The national e-Vidhan application is significant as it integrates different legislatures and Parliament through a common digital platform, allowing for the sharing of best practices and innovations among legislative bodies.

What is the role of the Judiciary in a liberal democracy as discussed in the conference?

The role of the Judiciary in a liberal democracy, as discussed, is to maintain a balance with the legislature while respecting the mandate given by the people to the Parliament, ensuring that the Parliament's sovereignty is upheld.

What challenges does Mr. Sujit Kumar highlight regarding the functioning of the Parliament?

Mr. Sujit Kumar highlights the challenges of an overstepping Judiciary, the decline in the quality of parliamentary discourse, and the need for more debate and deliberation to ensure democracy's vibrancy.

How does Mr. Tripathi describe the importance of technology in enhancing parliamentary democracy?

Mr. Tripathi describes the importance of technology as a means to make parliamentary proceedings more accessible, transparent, and efficient, allowing members to engage with debates and legislation more effectively.

What is the significance of the harmonious relationship between the legislature and Judiciary according to the experts?

The harmonious relationship between the legislature and Judiciary is significant for maintaining the balance of power, ensuring democratic principles are upheld, and allowing for effective governance.

What are the key aspects of parliamentary democracy that need to be addressed to improve its functioning, according to the panel of experts?

The key aspects include ensuring smooth functioning without disruptions, encouraging more discussion and involvement of people, utilizing technology for better integration and accessibility, and maintaining a harmonious relationship between the legislature and Judiciary.

How can the participation of common citizens be increased in the legislative process, as suggested by the panel?

The panel suggests increasing participation through live broadcasts of parliamentary proceedings, making the premises of legislatures more accessible, and utilizing the committee system to involve experts, stakeholders, and citizens in discussions and deliberations.