VP Expresses Deep Concern Over The Lack Of Discipline & Decorum In Legislatures; Says “Debates Have Been Reduced To Quarrels”

Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankhar expressed deep concern over the lack of discipline and decorum in legislatures, warning that “the enormity of this decline is rendering legislatures irrelevant.”Noting that the debates have been reduced to quarrels, the VP described this as an extremely disturbing situation that calls for greater introspection amongst all stakeholders.

Observing that the emergence of this ecosystem is debilitating our parliamentary democracy, Shri Dhankhar cautioned that the erosion of public trust in their representative bodies is the most worrisome thing that should “engage the utmost attention of the political class of the country.”

Addressing the closing ceremony of the 84th All India Presiding Officers’ Conference in Mumbai today, the Vice-President called it high time for Presiding Officers to invoke their authority to enforce discipline and decorum as the lack of these is virtually shaking the very foundations of Legislatures. “Disruption in legislatures is cancerous not only for legislatures but also for democracy and society. Curbing it is not optional but an absolute necessity to save the sanctity of legislature,” he added.

Drawing an analogy with the family system, Shri Dhankhar said, “If the child in the family is not adhering to the decorum, discipline, he has to be disciplined even to the pain of the person who is disciplining,” adding that our resolve should be to have zero accommodation for disturbance and disruption.

Stating that a strong democracy thrives not just on sound principles but on leaders committed to upholding them, he said that as presiding officers, “we bear the responsibility to be guardians of the democratic pillars. Our duty is to ensure the legislative process is meaningful, accountable, effective and transparent, giving voice to the people.”

To ensure the blossoming and flowering of democracy, Dhankhar called upon the legislators to believe in the 4 Ds of Dialogue, Debate, Decorum and Deliberations and keep away from the 2 Ds of Disturbance and Disruption.