Context:

• Our Honourable Vice President has unveiled a 15-point reform charter, while expressing severe concern over the functioning of parliamentary institutions in the country and erosion of public trust in them.
• The charter is expected to serve as a basis for a new political normal to enable effective functioning of Parliament and State Legislatures.
• He also called for a new political consciousness urging all the stakeholders to review their mindset with regard to their roles and responsibilities.

The 15-point Charter Includes:

• Parties need to ensure attendance of at least 50% of their legislators all through the proceedings of the Houses by adopting a roster system.
• Review of anti-defection law.
• Review of the whip system which is “stifling reasonable dissent even on non-consequential matters”.Set up special courts for time-bound adjudication of criminal complaints against legislators.Pre and post legislative impact assessment.
• Address problem of rising number of legislators with criminal background.
• Governments should be responsive to opposition and opposition to be responsible and constructive while resorting to available parliamentary instruments
• Consensus on the proposal for simultaneous elections.
• Steps should be taken for the effective functioning of the Parliamentary Committees.
• The representation of women in legislatures needs to be raised.

Need behind such a charter:

• The functioning of the parliament is heavily coming under criticism for various reasons and major issues behind them are as follows:
  • Political power continues to be a male dominated. The Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha have not seen women MPs cross the 12% mark.
  • Political parties failing to display internal democracy.
  • The number of sittings the parliament undergoes is declining gradually.
  • Parliament occupied by persistent disruptions.
  • Rising questions on the quality of debates. In 2008, for instance, 16 Bills were passed with less than 20 minutes of debate.
  • Rising number of legislatures with criminal record.
  • Rising money and muscle power in elections.
  • Legislatures displaying high degree of absenteeism.
  • Faulty ‘First Pass the Post (FPTP) election system.
  • There are many instruments like anti-defection law, whip issued by the political parties that are acting as hindrances for free speech of MPs.