The Speaker of India’s Lok Sabha, Om Birla, has recently stated that the adjournment of the House in a planned manner is a bad sign for the country’s democracy and diminishes the dignity of democracy itself. Speaking at the First National Legislators Conference, Birla expressed concern over recent incidents of commotion and interruptions in the Houses, emphasizing that legislative bodies must function in a dignified manner.
India is the oldest, largest and most vibrant democracy in the world, and Birla noted that democratic institutions have thrived in different regions for millennia. He praised the role of the legislative bodies in ensuring the socio-economic welfare of the people and said that legislators are expected to work as a role model for other institutions and organizations of the country.
Birla observed that being a legislator is a great responsibility as they are a crucial link between the citizens and the executive. Legislators are expected to maintain high standards of discipline and decency in their public life as incidents of unruly behavior tarnish their image and result in the adjournment of the House in a planned manner. Therefore, discussions and dialogues in legislatures should be productive and result-oriented to effectively address the concerns.
According to Birla, democracy is a moral system, and legislators should self-analyze the shortcomings and find solutions to future challenges. Occasionally, there may not be discussions and dialogues that lead to solutions, and there will be a need for judicial intervention, which is not appropriate for democracy.
The Constitution has played a significant role in shaping democracy in India, and legislators are expected to uphold the virtues of freedom, equality, and justice given by the Constitution. Laws framed in the legislatures are the basis of all rights of the people, which strengthen the country and the people.
During the conference, the Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam Innovation Expo was inaugurated. It seeks to showcase good governance models, social innovation and development models, flagship programs by state governments, institutes, individuals, etc.
The conference was attended by Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra, Devendra Fadnavis, Speaker of Maharashtra Legislative Assembly, Rahul Narwekar, and Presiding Officers of State Legislative Assemblies and Councils. Former Lok Sabha Speakers, Shivraj Patil, Meira Kumar and Sumitra Mahajan also attended the function.
