Of the four pillars of Democracy (a) Legislature, (b) Executive (c) Judiciary and (d) Media, the Parliament, the bicameral Legislature comprising two Houses, vested with the responsibility for making laws, ostensibly to sub-serve the onerous task of good governance of the country, has landed itself in the eye of a storm, given the daily scene of protests disrupting orderly proceedings. Its counterparts, namely the Legislative Assemblies and Legislative Councils of States are following in the footsteps of their big brother as it were.
Their members, with a five-year tenure, are elected in accordance with the Representation of the People Act, 1951 spelling out the ground rules for conduct of elections as well as the qualifications and disqualifications for membership of the Houses, corrupt practices and other offences during or in connection with such elections. The Act was enacted by the provisional Parliament under Article 327 of Indian Constitution ahead of the country’s first general election during 1951-52. The nation’s Parliament has an approved strength of 545 in Lok Sabha including the two nominees from the Anglo Indian community and 245 in Rajya Sabha including 12 nominees from expertise of different fields. The mounting cost of both conducting elections and sessions of the Parliament not being taken note of by the people, the issue of pension for the elected members has been raised in some quarters of the public.
