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Daily Editorial Summary

02nd September 2023
Topics To be Covered:
✓ On Jammu and Kashmir and Statehood
✓ Parliament has created an elegant symphony of Democracy
✓ Govt panel to study simultaneous polls to LS, State
Assemblies

To access the video of editorial summary:

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Topics
On Jammu and Kashmir and Statehood
Context:
The Supreme Court Bench is hearing the challenge to the abrogation of J&K’s special status under Article 370 of
the Constitution.
About the Matter:
❖ Removal of Article 370 & 35A:
➢ Article 35A of the Indian constitution, which gave some special privileges to the people of the state, was
removed in 2019.
➢ The Indian government revoked nearly all of Article 370, which 35A is part of.
❖ Status Changed: Four years after J&K ’s status was downgraded to that of a temporary Union Territory.
❖ Reorganization of State: Alongside the President’s declaration of Article 370 as inoperative and the
application of the whole of the Constitution to J&K, the State was reorganized into two Union Territories —
Jammu and Kashmir, with a Legislative Assembly, and Ladakh, without an Assembly.
Concerns:
❖ Delay in Restoration of Statehood: The central concern is the delay in restoring statehood to Jammu and
Kashmir, four years after its special status was revoked and it was reorganized into Union Territories.
➢ The government has not committed to a specific timeline for this restoration.
❖ Rationale for Delay: The question arises whether the prolonged period of disturbance in the region can still be
cited as a valid reason for the delay in restoring statehood, especially given the government's claim that the
situation has improved substantially.
❖ Constitutional and Legal Challenge: The ongoing legal challenge in the Supreme Court regarding the
abrogation of Article 370 and the reorganization of Jammu and Kashmir emphasizes that the focus of the court's
proceedings should be on constitutional and historical issues rather than developments on the ground since
August 2019.
Conclusion:
It's time for the restoration of popular government as well as Statehood in J&K, elections should be held at
earliest and Election Commission of India and the State’s Election Commission will have to take a call soon to
conduct elections.
News Source: The Hindu

Parliament has created an elegant symphony of Democracy

Context:
This article is explaining the role played by the Parliamentary institutions in strengthening democracy in India.
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Parliamentary Democracy:
❖ A Supreme Expression: Parliament represents the supreme expression of the will of sovereign nations and
peoples.
❖ Elections: Elected representatives seek approval for their plans and programmes from their constituents
through free, fair and open elections.Accountability: Parliament holds the executive branch accountable for
their actions and inactions.
India- Mother of Democracy:
❖ Indian ancient texts mention institutions and political systems that facilitated discussions and deliberations and
also reveal the existence of participatory governance, especially at the level of village communities.
❖ Many parts of India, inhabited by communities with tribal traditions, have demonstrated resilient local self-
governance.
❖ Parliamentary democracy has strengthened and flourished in independent India.
❖ When India gained independence in 1947, there were widespread doubts about the democracy in the country.
➢ However, the founding leaders of the country had an intuitive faith in the political judgment and
wisdom of the common people and had no self-doubt.
❖ India adopted an exceptionally enlightened Constitution at independence.
Role of Parliament in strengthening democracy:
❖ Enabled the nation to manage conflicts and cherish
Concerning Points:
diversity.
❖ Reduced Attendance of Parliamentarians
❖ Guided the nation on the path of development and
❖ Use of Money Bill Route to pass any bill
prosperity with special focus on the weaker sections of the
society. ❖ No Bill Scrutiny

❖ Respect diversity in all its forms. ❖ Absence of Deputy Speaker Post

❖ Final watchdog of the public exchequer, approves the

allocation of funds, and finances and monitors expenditure.
❖ Securing accountability of the executive through the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business, tradition
and well-settled precedents.
Impact on Democracy:
❖ Bringing positive changes in socio-economic changes in India through
❖ Lack of Accountability
progressive legislation and debates on matters of contemporary national
❖ Destroying Balance of Power
interest.
❖ Compromised Law Making
➢ To date, our Parliament has passed over 4,000 laws since
Independence. ❖ Less People’s Participation

➢ These pieces of legislation have established India as a nation that

promotes the rule of law.
➢ It also establishes India as a nation that is determined to uplift and improve the quality of life of ordinary
citizens, and make society inclusive and fair.
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Parliamentary Committees:
❖ Extensions of Parliament and are often referred to as miniature parliaments.
❖ Endowed with significant authority and responsibility for conducting thorough examinations of bills, budget
proposals, programs, policies, and the functioning of various ministries within the Union government.
❖ Play a crucial role in complementing and supporting the work of Parliament.
❖ Develop their own approaches, gather input from government officials, and take opinions directly from
the public, organizations, and experts.
➢ These feedback mechanisms enhance the effectiveness of parliamentary oversight.
Parliamentary Privileges:
❖ The Constitution grants members of Parliament certain rights, privileges to enable them to fulfill their
responsibilities efficiently and without fear of bias.
❖ It serves as a shield to protect the independence, authority, and dignity of Parliament from encroachments
by other branches of the state.
❖ This is essential for freely expressing their opinions and ideas.
❖ These privileges have immunity from legal action for statements made within the Houses of Parliament and
protection from arrest in civil matters during parliamentary sessions or committee meetings.
Way Forward:
❖ Right to question and dissent should be protected at all costs.
❖ Need to work upon the disruptive obstructionism, which is a decrease in the productivity of the legislative
body.
Time to Ensure:
❖ Time for Transformation: India should devise ways to transform this
representative institution into a place deserving of the respect and ❖ Need of Committees Referrals
confidence that voters have placed in their elected representatives. ❖ Regular Monitoring
❖ Embracing Technology: Indian Parliament needs to embrace ❖ Increase the number of Sittings
technology and should lead the way. ❖ Research Support
➢ Over the last few years, the Parliament of India has made ❖ Responsible Opposition
concerted efforts to introduce information technology. ❖ High Participation of Peoples

Earlier taken Reforms:

❖ The new building of Parliament has incorporated top-rated green building norms and modern technology
to reduce carbon footprint and raise efficiency.
❖ The Digital Sansad app has been developed and is being continuously fine-tuned to serve members and
stakeholders better.
❖ Social media coverage of the activities and archival resources of Parliament is being upgraded to connect
effectively with the youth. The Parliament of India is well on its way to becoming a truly “e-Sansad”.

News Source: The Indian Express

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Govt panel to study simultaneous polls to LS, State Assemblies

Context:
The government has constituted a committee headed by former president of India Ram Nath Kovind to explore
the possibility of “one nation, one election”.
About Simultaneous Election:
❖ One Nation One Election refers to conducting simultaneous elections for the Lok Sabha and state assemblies,
thereby synchronizing the election cycle and reducing the frequency of elections.
❖ Simultaneous Elections in Independent India: Initially, Lok Sabha (the lower house of Parliament) and state
legislatures in India held elections simultaneously in 1952 and 1957.
❖ Break in Synchronized Elections: The synchronized cycle was disrupted in Kerala in July 1959 when the
Centre used Article 356 of the Constitution to dismiss the Communist Party-led government, which had come
to power after elections in April 1957.
Arguments for Simultaneous Elections:
❖ Cost Reduction: Holding all elections together would reduce the overall cost of conducting elections as
resources like personnel, security, and logistics could be optimized.
❖ Single Election Season: Simultaneous elections would confine all electoral activity to a single season,
preventing the frequent disruptions in governance caused by elections in different states at different times.
❖ Uninterrupted Governance: Proponents argue that the Model Code of Conduct during elections hinders the
government's ability to announce projects or policy plans. Simultaneous elections would reduce these
interruptions.
❖ Impact on Public Services: The frequent deployment of government employees for election duty can disrupt
public services, creating obstacles for the efficient operation of government functions and service delivery to
the public.
❖ Combating Illicit Funds: Frequent elections have been linked to the potential conversion of illicit funds into
legal assets, contributing to the growth of an underground economy. Conducting elections simultaneously could
mitigate this risk.
Arguments against Simultaneous Elections:
❖ Complexity: Organizing simultaneous elections involving multiple levels of government (central and state) is
a complex task, requiring significant logistical coordination.
❖ Bias Toward National Parties: Critics argue that simultaneous elections could favor nationally dominant
parties over regional ones, potentially diminishing the voice of regional players in the political landscape.
❖ Government Instability: If any government, whether at the central or state level, were to collapse before
completing its term, it could lead to significant political and governance challenges.
❖ Logistical Challenges: Holding simultaneous elections would necessitate a substantial increase in electronic
voting machines and Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail machines, posing logistical and resource challenges.
Conclusion:
Any decision regarding simultaneous elections should carefully consider the unique dynamics of India's diverse
political landscape and prioritize the democratic principles of representation, accountability, and efficient
governance.
News Source: Indian Express
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