Why in the News?
- PRS Legislative Research released statistics on the functioning of the 17th Lok Sabha (June 2019 – February 2024).
- It highlighted low productivity, reduced sittings, and lack of parliamentary debates.
Key Highlights of the Report
- 274 sittings held, with 179 Bills passed.
- Question Hour functioned for 60% of the scheduled time in Lok Sabha and 52% in Rajya Sabha.
- 2020 Monsoon Session had no Question Hour due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
- 17th Lok Sabha had the lowest number of sittings among all full-term Lok Sabhas.
- Deputy Speaker not elected throughout the tenure, violating Article 93, which mandates the election of both Speaker and Deputy Speaker “as soon as may be.”
- Only 16% of Bills were referred to Parliamentary Committees for detailed scrutiny.
- 35% of Bills were passed with less than an hour of discussion.
- 80% of the Union Budget was passed without discussion.
Concerns Raised
- Reduced Parliamentary Oversight – Fewer sittings and lack of debates undermine democratic scrutiny.
- Decline in Committee-Based Legislation – Important bills passed without detailed discussions.
- Weakened Parliamentary Norms – Absence of a Deputy Speaker reflects institutional erosion.
Way Forward
- Revive parliamentary debates by ensuring more sittings.
- Mandate committee referral for significant bills.
- Ensure transparency in budget discussions.
