In the 17th Lok Sabha session, Lok Sabha functioned for 88% of its scheduled time, while Rajya Sabha worked for 73%.
- In the 1950s, the Indian Parliament met for 120-140 days every year, now the number ranges between 60 to 70 days.
Issues with Parliamentary Disruptions
- Weakening Democratic Accountability: Parliamentary debates let elected leaders question the government, but disruptions hinder this key part of democracy.
- Monetary cost: The cost of running Parliament is around Rs 2.5 lakh per minute.
- Eroding Public Trust in Parliament: Frequent disruptions shift MPs’ focus from solving important issues to stalling proceedings.
Measures that can be adopted to address parliament disruption
- Ensuring dedicated time for Opposition: For e.g., the British Parliament sets aside 20 days each year for the opposition to decide the agenda.
- Strengthen ethics committees: To monitor and report disruptions, ensuring accountability.
- Annual Parliamentary Calendar: Calendar of sittings should be announced at the beginning of each year for limited flexibility.