The Hindu : National : Somnath advocates ‘Right of Recall’ of legislator

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Somnath advocates ‘Right of Recall’ of legislator

Special Correspondent

But many speakers say it would be abused in Indian context

— Photo: Shanker Chakravarty

Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee with the former Chief Justice of India, A.M. Ahmadi; Shashi Tharoor, the former Under Secretary-General, United Nations; and N.R. Narayana Murthy, chief mentor and non-executive chairman of Infosys Technologies at a discussion in New Delhi on Saturday.

NEW DELHI: Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee on Saturday advocated ‘Right of Recall’ of a legislator as a possible remedy to the misconduct by members of Parliament and legislatures.

While his suggestion found some support at the second round table discussion on ‘Strengthening Parliamentary Democracy,’ the majority view ran contrary as speakers felt it would be abused in the Indian context.

Lamenting the wastage of House time due to frequent disruptions, Mr. Chatterjee said he had always been an advocate of ‘Right of Recall’ which enabled voters to punish their representatives.

However, former Chief Justice of India A. M. Ahmadi warned that a system which might have worked well for other countries need not necessarily be effective in India.

Agreeing with the Speaker’s contention the ‘Right of Recall’ would vest actual power in the sovereign – especially in a country like India where elected representatives seldom enjoy majority vote – Mr. Justice Ahmadi cautioned against importing the concept lock, stock and barrel. Instead, he said, it should be tailored to the Indian context.

A recipe for chaos

But, former Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations Shashi Tharoor was of the view that ‘Right of Recall’ could be a recipe for colossal chaos; particularly given the fractured mandate that successive elections have been throwing up across the country.

“Please do not persist with that suggestion as it could create more confusion and chaos,” he told the Speaker.

His views were echoed by J. P. Narayan of Lok Satta. The lone speaker to insist that all was not bad with Indian democracy, Mr. Narayan identified competitive elections, political freedom despite all the distortions, and the fact that the elected government and – not a coterie or junta – ruled the country as some of the welcome features.

Warning against the non-political options gaining currency among the middle class, Mr. Narayan said the need of the hour was to change the current electoral system which did not allow decent people to enter politics. This, he said, would not be possible without changing the way political parties function in the country.

Lamenting the manner in which legislators were being tied down by the anti-defection law, he said it should apply only to how members vote on the Finance Bill and a confidence/no-confidence motion. Otherwise, they should be free to air their views.

Disappointed

Lok Sabha member Ranjeet Ranjan spoke about her own mixed experience as a first-timer. Referring to the recent session, she recalled how she was forced to agitate with other Bihar members at the direction of senior Ministers Lalu Prasad and Ram Vilas Paswan. “I actually wanted to raise the Kosi flood issue and was disappointed when the two leaders encouraged me to disrupt proceedings.”

Film-maker and Rajya Sabha member Shyam Benegal said television coverage of Parliament proceedings was only encouraging members to disrupt proceedings. Knowing that their electorate could be watching them, members use Parliament more for grandstanding instead of meaningful debate, he said; a view that found some support among other speakers.

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