The Indian Parliament: A Critical Appraisal examines the credibility and legitimacy of the Indian parliament and its functioning, and provides a comprehensive overview of the current state of India’s parliamentary democracy.
The introduction analyses the relationship between the functioning of parliamentary institutions and rapid changes in Indian society, particularly the onset of coalition politics and economic reforms. Part One examines the institutional standards of Parliament’s performance: the need for a more effective law to curb defections; the important procedure of private members’ legislation; whether bicameralism has served its original purpose; and the need for better enforcement of rules to prevent indiscipline and misbehaviour. Part Two focuses on different forms of parliamentary control, and the evolving relationship between the legislature and the executive in a time of unstable coalitions. Finally, Part Three analyses external factors affecting the internal functioning of Parliament, such as the role of the media, criminalisation of politics, and the influence of civil society organisations and movements.
This volume will be indispensable for students and scholars of political science, law and public administration, policymakers and journalists.
Sudha Pai is former Rector & retired Professor, Centre for Political Studies, School of Social Sciences, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi.
Avinash Kumar is Assistant Professor of Political Studies, Centre for Informal Sector and Labour Studies, School of Social Sciences, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi.
List of Figures, Tables and Annexures Preface and Acknowledgements Publisher’s Acknowledgements
Introduction Sudha Pai and Avinash Kumar
Part One: Parliamentary Functioning: Internal Dimensions 1. Measuring the Effectiveness of the Indian Parliament M. R. Madhavan and Harsimran Kalra
2. The Anti-Defection Law: Intent and Outcome Kaushiki Sanyal
3. Understanding Private Member’s Bills in the Indian Parliament Raghab P. Dash
4. Bicameralism in India: The Centre and the States K. C. Sivaramakrishnan and Bhanu Joshi
5. Performing Ethno-Linguistic Representation: A Study of Indian Parliamentary Ceremony and Ritual Carole Spary Part Two: Parliamentary Control Versus Executive Autonomy 6. Revitalising Parliamentary Oversight Committees Amitabh Mukhopadhyay
7. Can the DRSCs Step into the Institutional Void of India’s Parliamentary Democracy? Valerian Rodrigues
8. Strengthening Legislative Capabilities of Parliament: The National Advisory Council Balveer Arora and K. K. Kailash
9. Delegation of Legislation in India: Constitutional Imperatives and the Economy of Politics Jaivir Singh
Part Three: Parliamentary Functioning: External Dimensions 10. Crime, (Politics) and Non-Punishment Avinash Kumar
11. Criminality in the Lok Sabha: An Examination of MP Participation and MP Attributes Devesh K. Tiwari
12. Delusions of Grandeur: How Corruption in the Media Undermines the Working of Parliamentary Democracy Paranjoy Guha Thakurta
13. The Rival Representative Claims of Parliament and Civil Society in India Niraja Gopal Jayal
Notes on the Contributors Index