Flaws in the Indian legislative process

Flaws in the Indian legislative process

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Political parties will have to introspect about their roles in our parliamentary system. The institution of Parliament will have to rethink its legislative processes. In the absence of these, Parliament will become a mere rubber stamp for government laws.

The winter session of Parliament which ended last week was a legislative washout. The government was hoping to secure Parliament’s approval for 19 Bills during the session. Out of these it could get two financial Bills, and the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Bill, passed. Not listed on Parliament’s legislative agenda was the Income Tax Amendment Bill. The government pushed through this Bill without any debate in the Lok Sabha. But this poor performance should not undermine Parliament’s legislative efforts this year. The highest law-making body was able to pass approximately 80 Bills in 2016.

-Chakshu Roy(Mint)