Parliamentary Conduct Crisis: Erosion of Deliberative Democracy and Institutional Sanctity
Contents4
Indian Express - Opinion · 17 Feb 2026 · 2 min read
Prelims · Polity Mains · GS2 Governance High relevance
Recent disruptions in Lok Sabha highlight systemic degradation of parliamentary norms, with personal attacks replacing policy debates, undermining legislative scrutiny and institutional integrity.
Key points
Nishikant Dubey's remarks against Rahul Gandhi exemplify the weaponization of language in Parliament, diverting focus from substantive policy discussions to personal confrontations.
The 2023 Ramesh Bidhuri incident, where derogatory remarks were made against Kunwar Danish Ali, underscores a pattern of unpunished misconduct despite privilege notices and public condemnation.
Privilege notices and appeals to the Speaker and PM saw no punitive action, signaling institutional tolerance for misconduct and eroding parliamentary accountability mechanisms.
[GS2-Governance] The suspension of 150 Opposition MPs in one sweep, including absent members, reflects weaponization of rules to suppress dissent and bypass legislative scrutiny.
Key legislations like Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and labour codes were passed without meaningful debate, reducing Parliament to a rubber-stamp for executive decisions.
[GS4-Ethics] The media ecosystem's reward for outrage over reasoned debate incentivizes performative disruption, reshaping parliamentary norms toward spectacle over substance.
State assemblies mirror this coarsening of political discourse, normalizing derision across representative institutions and lowering public expectations of democratic conduct.
The financial and deliberative costs of frequent adjournments include collapsed Question Hours and rushed legislative processes, undermining constitutional oversight functions.
Way Forward: Parliament must enforce rules on unparliamentary conduct predictably and non-partisanly, institute mandatory rhetorical training for MPs, and establish swift disciplinary mechanisms for breaches of decorum.
Key terms
- Privilege Notice
- A formal complaint by MPs alleging breach of parliamentary privilege, which refers to rights and immunities necessary for legislatures to function without obstruction. Under Articles 105 and 194 of the Constitution, these privileges allow free speech in Parliament while holding members accountable for misconduct.
- Unparliamentary Language
- Expressions prohibited in legislative debates as per Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business. The Speaker maintains a lexicon of banned terms, with violations leading to expungement. Their unchecked use erodes institutional dignity and substantive debate.
- Question Hour
- The first hour of parliamentary sitting dedicated to MPs interrogating the executive, mandated by Rule 32 of Lok Sabha Rules. Frequent disruptions undermine this constitutional accountability mechanism under Article 75(3).
- Institutional Sanctity
- The moral authority and functional autonomy of constitutional bodies like Parliament. Its erosion through tolerated misconduct weakens separation of powers and public trust in democratic processes under the Basic Structure Doctrine.
Practice question
Critically examine the factors contributing to the erosion of deliberative democracy in the Indian Parliament, with special reference to recent incidents of unparliamentary conduct and procedural disruptions. (250 words, 15 marks)
GS2 15 marks 250 words Mains
Key terms to include: Privilege Notice Unparliamentary Language Question Hour Institutional Sanctity Deliberative Democracy Basic Structure Doctrine Article 105 Separation of Powers
Answer framework
Introduction
Briefly introduce the concept of deliberative democracy and its importance in parliamentary functioning. Mention recent incidents (e.g., Nishikant Dubey's remarks, Bidhuri incident) as symptomatic of larger systemic issues.
Institutional Tolerance for Misconduct
Failure to enforce privilege notices and disciplinary actions (e.g., no punitive action in Bidhuri case)
Partisan application of parliamentary rules leading to erosion of institutional sanctity
Weaponization of Parliamentary Procedures
Mass suspensions of opposition MPs bypassing legislative scrutiny
Rushed passage of key legislations (Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, labour codes) without debate
Cultural Shift in Political Discourse
Media ecosystem rewarding outrage over reasoned debate
Normalization of personal attacks replacing policy discussions
Operational Consequences
Collapse of Question Hour undermining executive accountability
Financial and deliberative costs of frequent adjournments
Conclusion
Suggest institutional reforms like non-partisan enforcement of conduct rules, mandatory training for MPs, and swift disciplinary mechanisms. Emphasize need to restore Parliament as a forum for reasoned debate.
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