premachandran: Passing Bills without scrupulous scrutiny not a healthy democratic legislative practice, RSP MP NK Premachandran tells PM in letter; seeks intervention | India News
NEW DELHI: Revolutionary Socialist Party MP NK Premachandran has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi inviting his immediate attention and intervention to ensure the effective functioning of Parliament in general and the legislative process in particular.
Premachandran said PM Modi’s statement that parliament is meant for detailed DEBATE, DISCUSSION, DECISION and DISSENT was laudable, but it was regrettable that the PM’s words were not complied with in respect of the Legislative process.
In a letter that asserted that instead of a “scrupulous scrutiny” of Bills as is essentially required for a fruitful legislation, Bills are pushed through in a hurried manner and passed without having effective discussion.
Premachandran also criticised the manner in which The Election Laws (Amendment) Bill 2021 was introduced and passed and members were denied an opportunity to propose amendments. This, he said, “is not a healthy democratic legislative practice” and
requested the effective intervention of Prime Minister in this matter to make the legislative process more fruitful for which the Government has a significant role.
In his submissions to the PM, Premachandran also objected multiple repeat amendments to bills in a “piece meal manner” and said the executive must foresee short comings likely to arise on implementation of any law and plug the loop holes at the time of debate in the House on the basis of suggestions made by the Members instead of hurriedly passing the law.
“Therefore, it is suggested either comprehensive Amendment Bill or Fresh Comprehensive Bill be brought in with a long term perspective….Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code Companies Law are subjected to amendments in every session of the Parliament. This is a bad practice and inefficiency of the executive in Legislative Process,” Premachandran said.
Demanding scrupulous scrutiny of Bills and recommending that they be referred to House committees after completing general discussions on them, Premachandran also said positive proposals of amendments moved by opposition MPs may also be accepted to make the legislation more “inclusive and fruitful”.
“Objections raised by Members during debate and amendments moved are not normally responded by the Government. Government must explain the reasons for not accepting the amendments to clauses at the time amendments are moved and clauses are considered instead of following a stereo type approach of straightaway rejecting amendments of Private Members,” he said.
The veteran parliamentarian also said every Bill, as far as possible, should go to the Standing Committee, as has been the practice, when Standing Committee system was incorporated in the rules of the House with the exception of Finance Bill / Ordinance Replacing Bills.
In his letter, the RSP MP also demanded a special session of Parliament in light of 75th year of Indian Independence and ‘Azadi Ka Amrith Mahotsav’ to discuss the smooth, effective and disruption-free functioning of the Parliament without expelling or suspending MPs.
Premachandran said PM Modi’s statement that parliament is meant for detailed DEBATE, DISCUSSION, DECISION and DISSENT was laudable, but it was regrettable that the PM’s words were not complied with in respect of the Legislative process.
In a letter that asserted that instead of a “scrupulous scrutiny” of Bills as is essentially required for a fruitful legislation, Bills are pushed through in a hurried manner and passed without having effective discussion.
Premachandran also criticised the manner in which The Election Laws (Amendment) Bill 2021 was introduced and passed and members were denied an opportunity to propose amendments. This, he said, “is not a healthy democratic legislative practice” and
requested the effective intervention of Prime Minister in this matter to make the legislative process more fruitful for which the Government has a significant role.
In his submissions to the PM, Premachandran also objected multiple repeat amendments to bills in a “piece meal manner” and said the executive must foresee short comings likely to arise on implementation of any law and plug the loop holes at the time of debate in the House on the basis of suggestions made by the Members instead of hurriedly passing the law.
“Therefore, it is suggested either comprehensive Amendment Bill or Fresh Comprehensive Bill be brought in with a long term perspective….Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code Companies Law are subjected to amendments in every session of the Parliament. This is a bad practice and inefficiency of the executive in Legislative Process,” Premachandran said.
Demanding scrupulous scrutiny of Bills and recommending that they be referred to House committees after completing general discussions on them, Premachandran also said positive proposals of amendments moved by opposition MPs may also be accepted to make the legislation more “inclusive and fruitful”.
“Objections raised by Members during debate and amendments moved are not normally responded by the Government. Government must explain the reasons for not accepting the amendments to clauses at the time amendments are moved and clauses are considered instead of following a stereo type approach of straightaway rejecting amendments of Private Members,” he said.
The veteran parliamentarian also said every Bill, as far as possible, should go to the Standing Committee, as has been the practice, when Standing Committee system was incorporated in the rules of the House with the exception of Finance Bill / Ordinance Replacing Bills.
In his letter, the RSP MP also demanded a special session of Parliament in light of 75th year of Indian Independence and ‘Azadi Ka Amrith Mahotsav’ to discuss the smooth, effective and disruption-free functioning of the Parliament without expelling or suspending MPs.
