Content
- As Parliament Reconvenes, Let’s Ask Why Legislature Is in Retreat
- Political Representation of Animals
As Parliament Reconvenes, Let’s Ask Why Legislature Is in Retreat
Why is it in News?
- Editorials highlighting a deepening institutional crisis: the weakening of the Parliament, erosion of legislative oversight, and rising executive dominance.
- Comes at a time when the Parliament reconvenes amid concerns over shrinking sittings, weak scrutiny, anti-defection law distortions, and declining parliamentary debate.
- The piece questions whether India’s parliamentary democracy is shifting from a Westminster-style balance to an executive-centered monologue.
Relevance
GS 2 – Polity & Constitution
- Separation of powers.
- Parliamentary functioning & reforms.
- Anti-defection law (Tenth Schedule).
- Legislative oversight mechanisms.
- Decline of deliberative democracy.
GS 2 – Governance
- Executive accountability.
- Role of Opposition.
- Strengthening institutions.
Practice Questions
- The Indian Parliament is witnessing a long-term decline in deliberation and oversight. Critically examine the institutional and political factors responsible.(250 Words)
Westminster Model & Indian Parliament
- Westminster model principles:
- Executive is accountable to the legislature.
- Legislature ensures oversight, scrutiny, and debate.
- In India:
- Parliament = Lok Sabha + Rajya Sabha + President.
- Core functions: lawmaking, budget approval, executive oversight, debate.
- Key accountability instruments:
- Question Hour
- Zero Hour
- Standing Committees
- Privileges & motions (censure, no-confidence, adjournment)
Key Issues Highlighted in the Article
Decline in Parliamentary Sittings
- First Lok Sabha: 135 sittings/year (1952–1957).
- 17th Lok Sabha: ~55 sittings/year.
- Impact:
- Shrinks deliberation time.
- Reduces scrutiny of laws, budgets, and executive actions.
- Weakens democratic accountability.
Executive Dominance Over Legislature
- Govt dismisses or bypasses Opposition motions.
- Bills passed with minimal discussion or in minutes.
- Significant laws enacted as Money Bills → avoids Rajya Sabha scrutiny.
- Ordinance route used frequently.
Anti-defection Law Weakening Legislatures
- Intended to prevent horse-trading.
- Now suppresses legislative independence.
- MPs/MLAs vote as party dictates, not conscience.
- Parliamentarians reduced to “numbers” rather than active deliberators.
Decline of Question Hour & Zero Hour
- First casualties in many sessions.
- Question Hour is the only time the executive is directly accountable.
- Cancellation/curtailment → weakens transparency.
Weakening of Parliamentary Committees
- Fewer bills sent to committees.
- Committees, supposed to be spaces for bipartisan expert scrutiny, now bypassed frequently.
Growing Political Intolerance
- Opposition reduced to disruption rather than debate.
- Govt opting for speedy passage rather than engagement.
- Leads to mutual distrust and a hollowed-out legislature.
Misuse of Expulsion and Suspension
- Increasing numbers of Opposition MPs suspended in recent sessions.
- Expulsion used as a political tool, disrupting balance.
Erosion of Constitutional Conventions
- British model relied heavily on unwritten conventions (e.g., ministerial responsibility).
- Indian practice drifting toward:
- Maximal control by the executive.
- Minimal space for opposition.
- Decline of conventions into partisan practices.
Comparative Perspective
UK Parliament
- PM’s Questions: weekly direct accountability.
- Strong committee system: ministers regularly testify.
US Congress
- Congressional committees have real investigative powers.
- Separation of powers enforces robust checks.
Australia & Canada
- Strong traditions of legislative oversight from Westminster inheritance.
India
- Moving towards executive primacy and legislative compliance, reversing classic Westminster balance.
Consequences for Indian Democracy
- Weak accountability allows unchecked executive power.
- Rapid legislation without debate harms legal quality.
- Erosion of federalism as Parliament acts less as a representative forum.
- Public trust declines when Parliament is seen as dysfunctional.
- Loss of deliberative democracy → threats to core constitutional ethos.
Solutions Suggested by the Article
- Recalibrate the anti-defection law to restore legislator independence.
- Re-emphasize parliamentary questions, debates, and committee scrutiny.
- Restore Westminster traditions of:
- Ministerial accountability
- Open debate
- Respect for Opposition
- Rebuild constitutional morality and conventions.
- Make Parliament a space of genuine deliberation, not just political theatre.
Conclusion
- India is drifting from a deliberative Westminster Parliament toward an executive-centric model, eroding constitutional checks.
- Legislative decline weakens accountability, federalism, and the very architecture of parliamentary democracy.
- Revitalisation requires structural reforms in sittings, scrutiny, anti-defection law, and restoration of conventions ensuring genuine debate.
Political Representation of Animals
Why is it in News?
- Editorials calls for institutionalised political representation for animals.
- Argues that current democratic structures are structurally incapable of representing animal interests due to anthropocentric design.
- Proposes fiduciary, independent institutions with constitutional protection to represent animals in policymaking.
Relevance
GS 2 – Governance / Polity
- Institutional design and reforms
- Non-majoritarian bodies
- Representation of vulnerable groups
- Accountability mechanisms
- Constitutional morality
GS 3 – Environment & Biodiversity
- Human-animal conflict
- Wildlife protection frameworks
- Ethical governance of ecosystems
GS 4 – Ethics
- Justice for non-human beings
- Stewardship model
- Ethical decision-making beyond anthropocentrism
Practice Question
- Democracies structurally fail to represent non-human animals. Critically discuss with reference to institutional design.(250 Words)
Anthropocentrism & Political Theory
- Modern political thought separates “human” vs “animal”, equating political agency with human-only attributes (reason, language).
- This foundational split creates:
- Animals as non-subjects
- Reduction of animals to property
- Denial of representation in democratic institutions
- Historically, “the animal” is treated as a single, homogeneous category, erasing diversity across non-human species.
Core Argument of the Article
Structural Flaw in Democracy
- Democracies recognise only voting populations.
- Animals cannot vote, lobby, litigate, or influence elections.
- Therefore, under majoritarian logic, animal interests are systematically excluded.
The Problem is Institutional, Not Moral
- Not a lack of compassion but a legal-institutional vacuum.
- Laws treat animals as property, not as beings with protectable interests.
- Welfare protections are reactive, not proactive.
Reframing Representation
Representation ≠ Voting Rights
- Animals should not be forced into human standards like rationality or speech.
- Representation should be grounded in:
- Sentience
- Embodiment
- Absolute vulnerability
- Unchosen dependency
Human role shifts from caretaker → trustee
- Humans act as fiduciary guardians, accountable to animals.
- Must justify decisions in land use, food systems, environment, security etc. through an animal-impact lens.
Why Majoritarian Democracy Fails Animals
- No electoral power → no political weight.
- State is a beneficiary of animal exploitation (tax revenue, agribusiness, subsidies).
- Ministries cannot credibly commit to protecting animals when they simultaneously support animal-dependent industries.
- Hence: representation must be non-majoritarian.
Institutional Architecture Proposed
Fiduciary Institutions
- Independent bodies mandated solely to represent animal interests.
- Model already exists for:
- Children’s rights
- Environmental protection agencies
- Data protection authorities
- Future generations commissions
Requirements for Effective Bodies
- Constitutional protection
- Operational independence
- Transparent, expertise-based appointments
- Fixed terms with rotation
- Rule-based procedures (not personality-dependent)
- Dedicated budgets
- Standardised welfare impact assessments
Multi-level Representation
Executive level
- Advisory councils to review rules for animal welfare impacts.
Parliamentary level
- Specialized committees/subcommittees on animal welfare.
- Mandatory Animal-Impact Assessments for relevant bills.
- Non-voting expert delegates integrated into legislative processes (similar to fiscal councils).
Regulatory level
- Independent statutory bodies with enforcement powers to prevent capture by industry.
Accountability Mechanisms
- Annual audits based on objective welfare metrics (preventable harm reductions).
- Public reporting of:
- Decisions
- Scientific evidence
- Reasoning
- Horizontal checks to complement parliamentary oversight.
- Transparent consultations with diverse stakeholders to avoid elite capture.
Case Study: Supreme Court Elephant Committee
- SC created an independent committee headed by a retired judge for elephant welfare.
- Example of fiduciary design.
- But failed due to:
- Procedural delays
- Lack of seriousness
- No action on verified cruelty complaints
- Illustrates the need for rigorous accountability and rule-based procedures.
Implementation Roadmap
- Gradual reform with pilot projects:
- Animal-impact reviews in urban planning
- Welfare-based certification systems
- Funding sources:
- Reallocation of harmful subsidies
- Transparent public budgets
- Public education to normalize animals as part of democratic responsibility.
Broader Significance
- Not only moral ethics but a deepening of democracy.
- Builds inclusiveness for vulnerable beings who cannot represent themselves.
- Strengthens constitutional values of justice, compassion, and dignity.
