The monsoon session exposed Parliament’s declining productivity. The Lok Sabha worked for just 15% of scheduled time and the Rajya Sabha for 33%
Twelve Bills were passed during the truncated session, many with little or no debate. Speed cannot substitute for the scrutiny that consequential laws require
Government majorities can push legislation through, while Opposition parties increasingly turn to disruption and extra-Parliamentary protest
Neither strengthens democratic governance
Joint parliamentary committee referrals have fallen sharply, from 60-71% in the 14th and 15th Lok Sabhas to 16-25% in the 16th and 17th
Today’s Opposition is repeating a pattern once followed by the BJP. The 2010 winter session saw Parliament use only 5% and 2% of scheduled time for legislative business
Persistent disruption and weak scrutiny erode faith in legislative democracy. MPs must return to constructive debate, committee scrutiny and the business of governing