Thaindian News

Jaipur, Sep 21 (IANS) Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar Wednesday called for regular and meaningful scrutiny of parliamentary and legislative functioning to make it “infallible”.

Inaugurating the 76th conference of presiding officers of legislative bodies at the Rajasthan Vidhan Sabha here, she said: “During more than six decades of its functioning, our parliamentary system has established sound precedents and traditions and has reinforced our democracy as a whole. But, aberrations do creep into the system”.

“Adjournments and disturbances interrupt the legislative proceedings. Hence, regular and meaningful scrutiny of its functioning is essential to make it infallible,” she added.

Noting that effective functioning of parliament was an important prerequisite for achieving goals of democratic governance, she said coalition governments had become a feature of Indian politics.

“The Indian experience shows that coalitions have not been alien to our soil. Though the emergence of coalitions was delayed in our country, however, in view of the inherent intricacies of mounting socio-political concerns and the process of evolving consensus we have been facing in present circumstances, this system appears to be a likely solution,” she said.

“We have a more than a decade’s experience of coalition governments. Nevertheless, the coalition governments have their own compulsions and challenges,” she added.

On the importance of well-drafted legislation, the speaker said it was not easy to enact a law since it passes through a well-defined rigorous process.

“The task of reviewing, examining and discussing the proposed legislation and giving it final shape is immensely important. The enactment of law is not as easy as one thinks …it passes through a well-defined procedure,” she said.

The speaker also recapitulated the parliamentary events since the last conference in Srinagar for the benefit of the presiding officers attending the conference.

Referring to the topic of discussion at the conference, the speaker said determination of maximum period for assent to bills passed by the legislature is a pertinent question closely related to the working of Indian parliamentary system, which requires a relook.

On the role of the legislature in scrutinising and making laws for good governance, she said it was an important function that provides the opportunity to review and examine and discuss the proposed legislation and influence the final shape.

Regarding the era of coalition government, their compulsions and challenges, she said the emergence of the age of coalition, as it were, was closely associated with the growing complexity in the process of representation.