Parliamentary Democracy at Cross Roads

Contents: Preface. 1. The constitution needs urgent re-vamping including reorganization of states on the lines indicated. 2. Hung houses: an opposition-less National Government the only remedy. 3. Can the speaker function without taking oath? Do we need a speaker after the house is dissolved? 4. System of pre-vote vetting of Budget - a re-appraisal of the committee system introduced in April 1993 and revised in 2004. 5. Can the budget be deemed to be passed without voting on revenue? 6. Members have lukewarm interest in legislation : a new system of legislation envisaged. 7. Do we really need upper chambers in 5 states, a Vice-president for India and these vices and deputies? 8. Why should we not codify privileges? Uncodified privileges a threat to rule of law. 9. Does the Constitution Permit Joint Committees of both houses? Create a Joint Parliament Secretariat. 10. Dwindling sessions and sittings of houses and the unbecoming behaviour of MPs. 11. Whips-Public accountability at naught : make them statutorily liable. 12. The story of the three ailing wings of the state : a re-appraisal. 13. Super constitutional mechanism in the garb of executive accountability to legislatures: make it a part of the constitution. 14. Is the role of Comptroller and Auditor - General over the accounts of the states constitutional? 15. Personal liability of heads of states in criminal matters-a questionable immunity. 16. Legislatures\' right to return and people\'s right to summon the Houses if a reasonable percentage of electorate wants it. Index.

"The Constitution of India gave to the country a system of government, called the parliamentary system, based mainly on the pattern of the British Parliament and borrowing certain features from the constitutions of some other countries.

By and large, this system has worked well over the last 57 years. However, there are certain snags in the system which are inherent in the constitution itself and have percolated in the parliamentary procedure.

The present treatise is a compendium of original articles highlighting the defects and deficiencies from which our system is suffering, some of them being brought to light for the first time.

The author believes that these lacunae will be looked into by the authorities concerned for such action as they may deem fit." (jacket)