Priyanka ‘Saurabh‘
The role of presiding officers in Parliament is crucial to maintaining neutrality and ensuring that parliamentary proceedings are conducted in a fair and impartial manner. Recently, the opposition raised a no-confidence motion against the Rajya Sabha Chairman, accusing him of being partisan. This situation highlights the importance of maintaining impartiality in key leadership roles for the integrity of democratic processes. The role of presiding officers of Parliament in maintaining the neutrality of parliamentary proceedings is to ensure impartiality in debates. Presiding officers are expected to ensure that all MPs, regardless of party affiliation, are given equal opportunity to participate in debates. Impartiality in decisions: Decisions made by the Speaker should be based on parliamentary procedures rather than partisan inclinations. The Speaker should mediate conflicts between the government and the opposition, creating space for constructive dialogue while maintaining decorum. A neutral presiding officer ensures the integrity and credibility of Parliament, fostering a conducive environment for democratic debate. If the Speaker is perceived to be neutral, confidence in the parliamentary system is strengthened, thereby promoting healthy democratic debates, as seen in mature democracies such as the UK.
The presiding officer must always demonstrate impartiality to safeguard the legitimacy of the parliamentary institution. If the Speaker is perceived to be biased, this may undermine confidence in parliamentary proceedings and public trust in the legislative process. Perceptions of bias in the Speaker’s actions may result in the public perception that Parliament is being manipulated to serve the interests of one party. A biased speaker may exacerbate political divisions within Parliament, leading to increased conflict between the government and the opposition. In such a scenario, the government and the opposition may resort to extreme tactics to challenge the Speaker’s decisions, leading to a more hostile and less productive environment in Parliament.
Perceived bias in the Speaker undermines the institution of Parliament itself, which plays a central role in upholding democratic values. If the Speaker is biased, mechanisms of accountability within Parliament may fail, allowing unchecked executive power. If the Speaker is seen to be aligned with one political party, this may lead to public disillusionment with the democratic process and political institutions. Establishing clear guidelines for the role of the presiding officer will help maintain consistency and impartiality in decision-making. In the UK Parliament, the Speaker follows a formal code of conduct that ensures neutrality, helps to address concerns over bias, and promotes transparency in parliamentary proceedings.
Ensuring long tenures for presiding officers can allow them to build trust, stability, and neutrality in their leadership roles. The fixed tenure of the German Bundestag president ensures long-term leadership stability, reducing the perception of partisan decision-making even during political upheaval.
Introducing independent oversight mechanisms to review the president’s decisions can ensure greater accountability and prevent partisan actions. Regular training programs for presiding officers can equip them with the skills needed to handle the complexities of parliamentary proceedings impartially.
Leadership training focused on impartial decision-making and conflict resolution can help the president better navigate political pressures while maintaining neutrality. Promoting bipartisan cooperation in parliamentary committees and discussions can promote a more balanced approach to decision-making. Encouraging inter-party dialogue and cooperation within parliamentary committees can help bridge differences and ensure that the president remains neutral in mediating between the government and the opposition.
The role of the presiding officers of Parliament is important in ensuring the neutrality of parliamentary proceedings. To maintain the credibility of democratic institutions, it is necessary to address the challenges faced by the Speaker, promote bipartisan cooperation, and ensure impartial leadership through clear guidelines and long tenure. In fact, through this, the opposition is trying to send a message to the Chair in both Houses of Parliament that if the Chair does not appear impartial, then the opposition will not hesitate to use its constitutional rights. In the last session, there was such a discussion in the political corridors regarding the Lok Sabha Speaker.