Time to introspect: Speaker Chatterjee Wednesday, January 24, 2007 Bhubaneswar: The visionaries who drafted the Constitution crafted a unique scheme of governance in which parliamentary democracy was cemented as the corner-stone of our constitutional edifice. They also amalgamated the principle of separation of powers underlining the primacy of the people and at the same time reinforcing the principle of constitutionalism, said Lok Sabha Speaker Mr Somnath Chatterjee.
Delivering the Mahatab Memorial Lecture here today, Mr Chatterjee said the centrality of the will of the people finds its best expression in the Preamble itself, which also is the very source of all institutions of governance.
“Parliamentary democracy can be strengthened only when all our institutions perform at their best keeping the interest of the people and country in mind. The executive has to be seen to be functioning to address concerns of the people, the legislature reflecting the urges and aspirations of people and larger national causes and the judiciary as an independent arbiter dispensing speedy and inexpensive justice to every section of people,” he said.
No institution should try, directly or indirectly, to undermine the strength of any other institution of our democracy. There is no super-organ to control and dominate the others, he said. The institutions of governance, particularly the legislature, executive and the judiciary, along with a watchful media, public spirited civil service and vigilant civil society should be collaborative partners in the endeavour to strengthen parliamentary democracy.
“To my mind, democracy cannot be sustained unless everyone associated with its functioning demonstrates a democratic spirit,” he added. Mr Chatterjee said it was time to introspect about the quality of democracy that has been achieved and to see as to what extent democracy facilitated development in the country. “Today’s India presents a contrasting picture of affluence and deprivation and we have to concede that we have not been able to take fullest advantage of democratic governance in the past six decades. We need to recognise that India lives in her villages and city-centric development alone will not help emancipate a substantial majority of our people who have not been effectively touched by the developmental initiatives of the past.”
It is in this context that all of India’s institutions that constitute governance structure need to perform at their very best in the interest of the people and nation.
People are justifiably, getting impatient with the way the democratic institutions are functioning. Debates and discussions are being overshadowed by disruption and confrontation. The people’s representative bodies at different levels should be concerned about it and endeavour to restore true democratic culture into their functioning, he said.
“The growing sense of public disapproval of the manner in which our representative institutions are functioning should remind us of both the public anger as also the need to apply correctives by all concerned.” Mr Chatterjee, however, felt that such aberrations should not lead to the conclusion that parliamentary democracy had failed in the country or had become irrelevant today. One ought to address the causes rather than target the institutions.
The media has an important role in strengthening democracy and it ought to function with a great sense of social responsibility. Unfortunately partisan politics is also influencing the media reporting and the dividing line between news and views is fast getting blurred, he noted.
Another imperative for strengthening parliamentary democracy is to create conditions for secular politics to flourish unhindered in our country. A modern and progressive education system also plays a crucial role as an informed electorate is one of the most factors for a vibrant democracy. On another plane, the achievement of true democracy requires a balanced participation of men and women in our political life, he added.
The Lok Sabha Speaker also urged for measures to ensure that the negative public perception of politics and of those in public life does not cloud the minds of the younger generations. Parliamentary democracy is not a matter of choice before us, it is a necessity for us as a nation, he said. Mr Bhatruhari Mahatab, MP and eminent jurist Mr Gangadhar Rath also addressed the gathering. orissadiary.com
Delivering the Mahatab Memorial Lecture here today, Mr Chatterjee said the centrality of the will of the people finds its best expression in the Preamble itself, which also is the very source of all institutions of governance.
“Parliamentary democracy can be strengthened only when all our institutions perform at their best keeping the interest of the people and country in mind. The executive has to be seen to be functioning to address concerns of the people, the legislature reflecting the urges and aspirations of people and larger national causes and the judiciary as an independent arbiter dispensing speedy and inexpensive justice to every section of people,” he said.
No institution should try, directly or indirectly, to undermine the strength of any other institution of our democracy. There is no super-organ to control and dominate the others, he said. The institutions of governance, particularly the legislature, executive and the judiciary, along with a watchful media, public spirited civil service and vigilant civil society should be collaborative partners in the endeavour to strengthen parliamentary democracy.
“To my mind, democracy cannot be sustained unless everyone associated with its functioning demonstrates a democratic spirit,” he added. Mr Chatterjee said it was time to introspect about the quality of democracy that has been achieved and to see as to what extent democracy facilitated development in the country. “Today’s India presents a contrasting picture of affluence and deprivation and we have to concede that we have not been able to take fullest advantage of democratic governance in the past six decades. We need to recognise that India lives in her villages and city-centric development alone will not help emancipate a substantial majority of our people who have not been effectively touched by the developmental initiatives of the past.”
It is in this context that all of India’s institutions that constitute governance structure need to perform at their very best in the interest of the people and nation.
People are justifiably, getting impatient with the way the democratic institutions are functioning. Debates and discussions are being overshadowed by disruption and confrontation. The people’s representative bodies at different levels should be concerned about it and endeavour to restore true democratic culture into their functioning, he said.
“The growing sense of public disapproval of the manner in which our representative institutions are functioning should remind us of both the public anger as also the need to apply correctives by all concerned.” Mr Chatterjee, however, felt that such aberrations should not lead to the conclusion that parliamentary democracy had failed in the country or had become irrelevant today. One ought to address the causes rather than target the institutions.
The media has an important role in strengthening democracy and it ought to function with a great sense of social responsibility. Unfortunately partisan politics is also influencing the media reporting and the dividing line between news and views is fast getting blurred, he noted.
Another imperative for strengthening parliamentary democracy is to create conditions for secular politics to flourish unhindered in our country. A modern and progressive education system also plays a crucial role as an informed electorate is one of the most factors for a vibrant democracy. On another plane, the achievement of true democracy requires a balanced participation of men and women in our political life, he added.
The Lok Sabha Speaker also urged for measures to ensure that the negative public perception of politics and of those in public life does not cloud the minds of the younger generations. Parliamentary democracy is not a matter of choice before us, it is a necessity for us as a nation, he said. Mr Bhatruhari Mahatab, MP and eminent jurist Mr Gangadhar Rath also addressed the gathering. orissadiary.com
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