The Big Picture – Whips’ Conference: Codifying conduct and privileges

Summary:

• The increasing decline in the quality of the functioning of the parliament and state legislatures has been a cause for serious concern for some years now.
• A conference of whips’, held recently, raised these issues.
• The conference is also looking at whether the codification of the conduct of the legislators and MPs as well as codification of privileges will help.
• These things help in smooth functioning of the parliament and increase the credibility.
• The need of the hour is to look at the problems from the fundamental point of view.
• Parliament is all about conventions and precedence.
• Supreme institution of India is the Parliament.
• If the quality of the members who get elected to the house is maintained then there is no need for codification.
• There cannot be any whip on the content of the speeches made by the MPs on the floor of the house.
• Whip is recognised by the constitution.
• Before codification the houses must be made functional. Some state legislatures are not functional.
• Lack of accountability of both the government and the opposition party to the parliament is escalating the problem.