Our Republicans missing in action

Tomorrow, like on every Republic Day, there will be much speechifying about ‘the world’s largest democracy’ and the ‘sacred text’ that is the Constitution. But if you let the rhetoric cool a bit and let facts do the talking, we may be looking the other way to avoid being caught looking uncomfortable as a democratic nation. PRS Legislative Research‘s annual report, ‘The Annual Review of State Laws’ for 2023 released last year, shows that state assemblies met for 23 days in 2023. As many as 12 states met for less than 100 hrs that year. 44% of all bills were passed on the day of introduction or the very next day, giving debates a short shrift. In 2002, a committee set up to review the working of the Constitution recommended that houses of state legislatures with less than 70 members should meet for at least 50 days in a year, and other houses meet for at least 90 days.Parliament doesn’t fare much better. The 2024 winter session functioned for 43 hrs 27 mins with a productivity of 40.03%. Maybe the Narayana Murthys and Subrahmanyans should give our MLAs and MPs some advice on work culture. When legislative bodies fail to meet, sessions are adjourned, bills are rushed through, public trust erodes. No amount of ‘voter turnout’ stats can sweeten this missing hand.

It is reasonable for voters to expect that their elected representatives show up for work in Parliament and assemblies, engage in meaningful debate and discussion, and address issues critical to public welfare. Instead, executive absenteeism has been rationalised and normalised. Lok Sabha speaker Om Birla recently shared his concern over the declining number of sittings of legislative bodies and disruptive tendency of frequent adjournments. We should be concerned, too.