Anil Anand
NEW DELHI, Jan 11: The 83rd All India Presiding Officers’ Conference began today in Rajasthan Legislative Assembly, Jaipur. The Vice President of India and Chairman, Rajya Sabha Jagdeep Dhankhar inaugurated the conference.
Lok Sabha Speaker, Om Birla; Rajasthan Chief Minister, Ashok Gehlot; Deputy Chairman of Rajya Sabha, Harivansh and Speaker of Rajasthan Legislative Assembly, Dr C P Joshi, addressed the Inaugural Session in which 20 Presiding Officers from other states took part.
In his inaugural address, Dhankhar described India as the ‘Mother of Democracy’ and stressed that the essence of democracy lies in the prevalence of the mandate of the people and securing their welfare.
Expressing concern over the increasing instances of disruptions in Parliament and Legislatures, he urged the representatives to be conscious of the expectations and aspirations of the people. The Vice President hoped that the conference would deliberate upon ways to urgently address these issues.
Emphasizing the need for harmonious relations between all organs of the State as envisaged in our Constitution, the Vice President said that democracy sustains and blossoms when the Legislature, Judiciary and Executive act in tandem and togetherness to realize the aspirations of the people.
On this occasion, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in his message, said that the role of legislative bodies in strengthening and enriching the world’s largest democracy is commendable. He further said the country is on the path of progress keeping pace with the changing world. In the last few years, from the maximum use of technology in the functioning of the legislature to the abolition of many irrelevant laws, we have continuously taken such steps to ensure a pleasant and positive change in the lives of the common man. He hoped that our legislatures will move forward more strongly in the progress of the country with modern changes in their functioning to protect the interests of the people.
Expressing concern over people’s declining faith in legislative bodies, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla said there is a question mark about legislatures and people’s representatives in the general public. He stressed that we have to address this question mark as well and improve the image and productivity of the Legislatures.
Birla said the discussions in the legislatures should be more disciplined, meaningful and dignified. Referring to the provisions of the Constitution, he said the intention of our constitution makers was that our democratic institutions should work as effective institutions to ensure socio-economic change in the lives of common people.
He emphasized that there is a need to make Parliament and Legislatures more effective, responsive and productive. He suggested that it is the responsibility of the Presiding Officers to give adequate opportunities for the expression of the hopes, expectations and concerns of the citizens through the people’s representatives in the Legislatures.
Birla also said that there should be active participation of the public in making progressive laws by the legislative bodies and youth and women should be involved in the process. He said that in order to make Parliament and Legislative Assemblies more effective, accountable and productive, information technology should be used extensively in the system.
Speaking on relationship between the legislature and the judiciary, he said the legislatures in our country have always respected the powers and authority of the judiciary. The Presiding Officers of Legislatures have endeavored to ensure that their relationship with the Judiciary is in accordance with the spirit and decorum of the Constitution.
He stressed that the Judiciary is also expected to follow the principle of separation and balance of powers conferred by the Constitution among all institutions while exercising its constitutional mandate, emphasized Birla. He opined that Legislature, Executive and Judiciary – all three institutions draw their powers and jurisdiction from the Constitution and they should work in harmony, trust and balance, taking care of each other’s jurisdiction. He advised the judiciary to stay within constitutional limits.
Chief Minister Rajasthan Ashok Gehlot observed that the nation has strengthened parliamentary democracy in the 75 years of independence. Compared to many other countries, India has strengthened the parliamentary system which has provided direction to the nation. Describing Parliamentary democracy as nation’s good fortune, Gehlot said that both the Government and opposition are an integral part of the legislature and strong traditions are established by mutual harmony between the two sides, leading to effective discharge of legislative tasks.
Follow our WhatsApp channel
