In a democracy ultimate power rests with the people. But people are represented by their elected parliamentarians and legislators. The source of power for the legislators or the parliamentarians rests with the people. Therefore when legislators demand or decide or want something to be done, it is actually what the people at large want. Any attempt of stonewalling the voice of the people overtly or covertly, is a crime against the people and against the state. Executive is one of the organs of the State but it is not all powerful because the executive is answerable to the Assembly. It has been noted that in case of difference of opinion on vital issues ultimately the opinion of the Assembly prevails and should prevail.
It is most unfortunate that the Executive in our State is trying to be over smart and trick the Assembly wherever it can. A Minister is not only the member of the legislature but also heads an executive department. Whatever he commits on the floor of the house must find fulfillment at the hands of the executive. This is the norm of smooth conduct of the affairs of the State. The Committee on Government Assurances is mandated to submit to the Legislative Assembly its report on the performance of various departments of the Government particularly in regard to the commitments made by responsible and concerned ministers on the floor of the House in regard to vital public issues. According to the observations of the Committee in question, many departments have failed to send in the Action Taken Report (ATR) on various matters that were pointed out by the Committee on Government Assurances in its previous report. Almost all major departments of the Government fall in this category. Why they failed to send in the action taken report is a serious matter and has to be dealt with in accordance with the service rules and also the Services Act. We will not enumerate the lacunae in the performance of each department as notified by the Committee in its report. It is very much there in public domain and there is neither need nor utility of repeating it here.
But the point that is needed to be highlighted is that subverting the Legislative Assembly by throwing to wind the commitments made by the Ministers on the floor of the House is subverting democratic dispensation of the State. How come the bureaucracy has amassed power to trivialize the decisions and commitments made on the floor of the House? The Heads of the Departments and the Secretary concerned have to be answerable. Prescribed rules explain the mandate of the Committee. They clearly state that there should be an endeavor on the part of departments to ensure the implementation of the commitments within the shortest possible time besides communicating the action to the Assembly Secretariat. It is the duty of the General Administration to emphasize upon the departments that this obligation has to be met and the action report has to be filed within the time frame set forth for it. How can it be accepted that there is coordination between the legislature and the executive on matters of vital public importance? Disregarding the decisions and commitments of the Assembly creates a dangerous situation that could lead to the failure of administration. Government cannot leave administrative matters of vital importance to the whims and convenience of functionaries. The Government is answerable to the Assembly and it has to explain at length if there is an odd case that could not be tackled for very special reasons.
People will be unhappy to learn that the Assembly and the Executive of the State are not on the same wavelength in some vital matters of the State. This brings disappointment and discomfort to the people. We do not know whether the bureaucracy has any idea of what it means to antagonize the representatives of the people and aspire for imposition of its own will. This is not the democratic way of running a state and the Chief Minister and his senior colleagues shall have to step in and without loss of time. Please arrest all attempts aimed at making a mockery of the State Legislative Assembly. It is a pious house working as the custodian of the trust of the people reposed in the Government. Nobody should be allowed to play with the sentiments of the people.
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