Rajya Sabha – ‘Rules of Procedure’ Reforms

What is the issue?

• Vice President (and RS Chairman) Mr. Venkaiah Naidu appointed a two-member committee for suggesting reforms to the rules of the Upper House.
• V.K. Agnihotri, former secretary general of RS, is heading the committee.

  What is the salience of Rules of Procedure?

• Both Houses of Parliament have their own rules of procedure and these rules govern every detail of how the Houses function on a daily basis.
• They determine MPs’ participation in parliamentary proceedings while making laws, passing budgets, questioning the government and representing us.
• In the seven decades since independence, governance has become complicated and the subjects of laws are more technical.
• But the rules governing the functioning of the Rajya Sabha have not kept pace with the times, thereby proving to be a retardant.
• There was hence a need for reforming them and the Agnihotri committee has been constituted with a mandate to submit its report within 3 months.  

How did the current Rules of Procedure of Rajya Sabha evolve?

• When Rajya Shaba commenced for the 1^st time in early 1952, it didn’t have rules of its own and rather relied on the constitutional assembly.
• Subsequently, a committee of 15 MPs were constituted from with the Rajya Shaba to evolve its own rules of procedure, which was finalised in late 1952. 
• But only in 1964, Rajya Sabha got its rules codified into Article 118(1) of the constitution – which continues till now with minor alterations.
• Periodic reviews have been carried out and the last such review for the Rajya Sabha happened in 2009.

What are the critical issues facing Agnihotri Committee?

• The Agnihotri committee has to address four fundamental issues that are currently plaguing our parliamentary system.  

• Firstly - It seems that the two Houses of Parliament meet mostly for transacting government business (stifling of the opposition voices).
• The committee will have to balance completion of government business with discussions raised by other political parties.
• Secondly - The existing mechanisms (like Question Hour) for securing the government’s accountability to Parliament have lost their edge.
• Measures for completely overhauling these mechanisms are required.
• Thirdly – As issues facing Parliament are now more complex and technical, strengthening the deliberative prowess of the houses is needed.
• Finally – Disruptions in parliament has become increasingly regular.
• Hence, suggesting solutions for protecting the sanctity of parliamentary proceedings is needed.

Source: Indian Express