Que. “The growth of cabinet system has practically resulted in the marginalisation of the parliamentary supremacy.” Elucidate.
“कैबिनेट प्रणाली के विकास के परिणामस्वरूप व्यावहारिक रूप से संसदीय सर्वोच्चता हाशिए पर चली गई है।” स्पष्ट कीजिए।
Structure of the Answer
(i) Introduction: Briefly introduce the “Cabinet system” and its role, with a focus on the marginalization of “parliamentary supremacy”.
(ii) Main Body: Discuss the evolution of the “Cabinet system” and examine how it has contributed to the diminishing influence of Parliament.
(iii) Conclusion: Summarize the need for balancing “parliamentary supremacy” with the Cabinet’s efficiency to uphold democratic values and governance.
Introduction
The “Cabinet system” has gradually concentrated executive powers, sidelining the traditional “parliamentary supremacy”. As the executive grows in dominance, Parliament’s role as the supreme legislative body has diminished.
Growth of the Cabinet System and its Impact on Parliament
(i) Rise of Executive Decision-Making: The Cabinet, led by the “Prime Minister”, has evolved to exercise concentrated authority, often making decisions before parliamentary discussion.
(ii) Marginalization of Individual Accountability: Ministers are collectively accountable to the Cabinet, weakening their individual responsibility to Parliament, reducing direct scrutiny by the legislature.
(iii) Parliament’s Reduced Legislative Role: The Cabinet has increasingly become the primary decision-making body, with Parliament’s approval often reduced to a formality.
(iv) Expansion of the Cabinet’s Functions: With complex governance challenges, more power is delegated to the executive, allowing the Cabinet to shape policies without sufficient parliamentary oversight.
(v) Dominance of Cabinet Committees: Cabinet Committees, tasked with key policy decisions, often bypass Parliament’s inputs, leading to the erosion of parliamentary debate on crucial issues.
Centralization of Power in the Executive
(i) Prime Ministerial Dominance: The role of the “Prime Minister” has grown in influence, often overshadowing both the Cabinet and Parliament, leading to centralized decision-making.
(ii) Cabinet Control Over Parliamentary Sessions: The executive now sets the agenda for parliamentary sessions, limiting the scope of debates, further diminishing legislative independence.
(iii) Use of Ordinances: Increasing reliance on “ordinances” allows the Cabinet to bypass Parliament on important issues, avoiding debates and discussions.
(iv) Weakening of Parliamentary Committees: While parliamentary committees are designed for scrutiny, the executive’s control often reduces their efficacy in influencing key governance decisions.
(v) Executive Control Over Financial Matters: Budget approvals, which were once the primary domain of Parliament, are now dominated by executive proposals, limiting the Parliament’s role in fiscal matters.
Challenges to Parliamentary Supremacy
(i) Decline in Parliamentary Debates: Key policies are debated less in Parliament, with decisions taken in Cabinet or executive circles. This diminishes parliamentary influence on policy formation.
(ii) Legislative Oversight Decline: Parliament’s role as a watchdog over the executive has weakened, as the Cabinet makes unilateral decisions on crucial issues, bypassing legislative scrutiny.
(iii) Reduced Session Time: Parliament sessions have reduced in length, further minimizing the time for critical examination of Cabinet decisions and policies.
(iv) Executive-Led Legislations: Most bills now originate from the Cabinet, reducing the independent legislative role of Parliament in framing laws.
(v) Diminished Role of Opposition: Opposition parties, traditionally a strong check on executive overreach, now find limited space to question and hold the government accountable in Parliament.
Effects of the Marginalization of Parliamentary Supremacy
(i) Erosion of Democratic Accountability: The weakening of Parliament’s role reduces the accountability mechanisms essential for democratic governance, giving unchecked power to the executive.
(ii) Weaker Checks and Balances: A marginalized Parliament affects the balance of power, where the executive dominates without robust legislative checks.
(iii) Loss of Public Representation: Parliament, as a representation of the people’s voice, finds itself sidelined, reducing the overall democratic engagement in policy-making.
(iv) Potential for Autocratic Tendencies: The diminishing role of Parliament could lead to the rise of autocratic tendencies within the executive, undermining democratic norms.
(v) Need for Reforms: There is a growing need to restore parliamentary supremacy through reforms that strengthen legislative scrutiny and reduce executive overreach.
Conclusion
The marginalization of “parliamentary supremacy” due to the “Cabinet system” poses a challenge to democracy. Strengthening parliamentary scrutiny and balancing executive powers are essential for ensuring democratic accountability.
