Chairman Hamid Ansari's decision to adjourn the proceedings of the Rajya Sabha at the stroke of midnight on Thursday may have attracted some criticism but the act actually prevented a precedent that could have led to a constitutional crisis.
Officials in the Rajya Sabha Secretariat said the criticism in some quarters that Mr. Ansari could have extended the session beyond its scheduled expiry by midnight of December 29 on the ground that it was the Sense of the House, does not hold water.
The officials said there was no unanimity especially since the government said it was not prepared to go for an extension as it needed time to reconcile the 187 amendments — some of which it said were contradictory — moved by the members.
“In effect there was no clear ‘Sense of the House' but at best it was a majority view minus the government,” they said, adding that the option of acceding to such a position would have created a dangerous precedent leading to a constitutional crisis.
Turning the argument around, they said, at a later date a similar majority in the House, in which the government does not have the numbers, can also demand that a session be curtailed.
Advancing it further, the officials argued that going against the opinion of the government would mean its absence in the House, which was a perfect recipe for a first-rate crisis.
Keywords: lokpal bill, winter session, Rajya Sabha debate, Hamid Ansari
The real question is , did he intend to prevent this dangerous precedent or was it inadvertent. action speaks louder than words, if we judge the action of chair, could anybody defend it, that is, in a parliamentary democracy, the whole opposition was ready to sit through the night for debate and vote.. did the chair not violated the privileges of parliamentarians by denying them to express their concerns? the argument that it could have set a dangerous precedent is compounding the falsity of chair's action which forgot its basic functions-to impartially conduct the business of house- to save the face of govt. and by the same token should we accept the premise that the sense of house implies the sense of govt. only? the article tries to create a climate of constitutional crisis,without citing any major one and for that point that majority can curtail the session is not a crisis as why should country waste its time and money to listen governments' nonsense talk..
But the point is, Truth. Without enacting a drama from Lalu's team, had they told the truth - there are so many amendments; we have no time to discuss; we shall discuss it later; then the nation would have stood up and saluted the Chairman Hamid Ansari. Truth was missing. That is no acceptable, even for the best cause. It may be of bitter in taste, but Truth is the best medicine.
Although government should have behaved in more brave manner but finally bill was saved which would other got sabotaged by BJP and rest. It will also persuade govt. to pass the bill in budget session. Otherwise on the name of illusive consensus this bill would also get doomed to same destiny as women reservation bill.
When the history of our political affairs for the last over a quinquenium is written, it will see the narration of how a dynasty in spite of having the best prime minister to govern the country was not allowed to perform optimallly. The reason is not because of the opposition but by the Establishment which owns the real estate piece that is India.
It may be recalled that after wresting independence from the
British, and formation of USA, President Washington wanted a
constitution of USA.While he was for an upper house like the House
of Lords in Britain, Benjamin Franklin,in charge of drafting the
constitution had an opposite view. He was against copying the
British model!So one evening Washington invited Franklin to his
house for tea.The tea served was piping hot! Franklin poured it on
"saucer and blew over it before sipping it! Washington asked,"What
are you doing?"Franklin replied:"Blowing the steam off"!Washington
quipped,"It is for that reason only I am pleading for the Upper
house.! Frankin, laughed and declared, "President! You win"!
The Upper house consists oof elders and veterans in diverse fields.
Every member of it,has to keep the dignity and decorum of the house!
Without displaying their passions and emotions, they should discuss
matters and decide.Chairman,hamid Ansari, has saved the honour and
dignity of the House
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