Express Delivery in Parliament

CJI NV Ramana lamented the “sorry state of affairs” of law-making and parliamentary debate. But it is not the hasty passage of a bill that’s at fault, but the rush to introduce it in Parliament that makes careful drafting a casualty

- Vivek K Agnihotri

THIS year on the occasion of the 75th Independence Day celebrations held at the Supreme Court lawns, Chief Justice of India (CJI) NV Ramana lamented the “sorry state of affairs” of lawmaking and parliamentary debate in the country. He observed: “We see a lot of gaps in legislation, there is a lot of ambiguity in making laws.” In the absence of quality debate, courts are unable to fathom the intent and object of new laws, triggering litigation and causing inconvenience to the stakeholders, he added.

This was a scathing indictment of process, procedures and personalities. The comment was made against the backdrop of the dubious distinction of legislative achievements during the monsoon session this year. The session, which began on July 19 and was expected to conclude on August 13 with 20 sittings, ended prematurely amidst din and chaos.

Despite this, the Lok Sabha passed 22 bills and the Rajya Sabha, 21, including two money bills. Of these, 21 bills were passed during this session itself by both Houses. One extra bill passed by the Lok Sabha was passed in the Rajya Sabha during the previous session. One of the Bills passed related to a constitutional amendment, since numbered 105th Constitutional Amendment after the president’s assent. Six of the bills passed by the two Houses pertained to ordinances promulgated by the president in the preceding intersession period. Only one of the bills passed had been through the portals of a Department Related Parliamentary Standing Committee (DRPSC).