Thursday, Dec 08, 2022
Journalism of Courage
Chakshu Roy
The writer is head of outreach PRS Legislative Research.
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More From Chakshu Roy
Governors as chancellors: The points of conflict
August 28,2022 04:10:50 AM
In the initial years of our Republic, there were hardly any conflicts between governors as chancellors and state governments. The Congress was in power at the national and state level. The President, bound by the Prime Minister’s advice, appointed individuals closely linked to the party as governors.
Sun, Aug 28, 2022
As Jagdeep Dhankhar moves to Centre, a Raj Bhavan link
August 07,2022 04:00:22 AM
Chakshu Roy writes: A building connected with the legislative history of our country, the Bhavan has on its first floor a room distinct from others with its plain white walls and functional furniture, unlike other rooms in the sprawling structure with their priceless art and carpets.
Sun, Aug 07, 2022
Suspension of MPs: the rules, and the powers of presiding officers
July 29,2022 04:00:09 AM
Over this week, the two Houses of Parliament have suspended 27 MPs between them. Who can suspend MPs, and for how long? Can courts intervene in a matter of suspension of MPs?
Fri, Jul 29, 2022
Chakshu Roy writes: Unsayable in the House
July 19,2022 04:41:25 AM
Chakshu Roy writes: Curtailing ‘unparliamentary’ expressions could stifle voice of MPs.
Tue, Jul 19, 2022
Stories in the story of presidential poll losers
July 17,2022 04:00:58 AM
Chakshu Roy writes: Presidential elections are a straightforward affair. The ruling party’s candidate wins easily, and sometimes the opposing candidate loses his deposit.
Sun, Jul 17, 2022
What’s parliamentary and unparliamentary language?
July 14,2022 22:14:46 PM
Chakshu Roy writes: In a political discussion, curtailing 'unparliamentary' expressions, without considering the context, will unnecessarily stifle the voices of MPs.
Fri, Jul 15, 2022
How Rajya Sabha polls came to be open ballot
July 03,2022 04:40:19 AM
Chakshu Roy writes: Candidates nominated by parties would win uncontested. Voting only took place when there were more contestants than vacant seats in the state. Electoral contest was usually among Independent candidates.
Sun, Jul 03, 2022
Explained: The anti-defection law, and why Eknath Shinde could be poised to dodge it in Maharashtra
June 22,2022 13:12:26 PM
Maharashtra Shiv Sena political crisis explained: Can the rebelling Shiv Sena MLAs face proceedings under the anti-defection law, or do they have the numbers to escape this? A look at the law, and the roles the Speaker and Governor will play in such situations.
Tue, Jun 28, 2022
How the first citizen is connected to the temple of democracy
May 17,2022 10:30:50 AM
Putting aside colonial convention, it was the Constitution that forged the most crucial relationship in the Republic – the one between the President and Parliament
Fri, Jun 24, 2022
Republic Day: In the 73rd year of our Constitution, how many of the concerns in it will we rectify?
January 26,2022 09:00:24 AM
The framers of the Constitution and members of Parliament had highlighted the concerns in our founding document, many of which were rejected during its framing, that took almost three years, and it came into effect on January 26, 1950
Mon, Jan 24, 2022
Story behind the statue of protest in Parliament
December 19,2021 03:46:44 AM
🔴 Chakshu Roy writes: For the last 29 years, the 16-foot-tall bronze statue has been the site for MPs across ideologies to express their disagreement.
Sun, Dec 19, 2021
Explained: How and when MPs are suspended
November 30,2021 04:40:32 AM
12 Opposition MPs have been suspended for the rest of the Winter Session for disruptions in Rajya Sabha during the Monsoon Session. What had happened then? What are the rules for dealing with disruptions?
Wed, Dec 01, 2021
A little high, a little low: Govt and aviation
November 07,2021 03:40:17 AM
World War II boosted aviation in the country. The building of airstrips and the availability of surplus aeroplanes encouraged entrepreneurs to start airlines. By the end of the decade in 1950, airlines in India had flown five lakh passengers
Mon, Nov 08, 2021
Explained: The anti-defection law, and how it has often failed to discourage defection
October 06,2021 04:00:22 AM
The anti-defection law punishes individual MPs/MLAs for leaving one party for another. It allows a group of MP/MLAs to join (i.e. merge with) another political party without inviting the penalty for defection.
Wed, Oct 06, 2021
How Gandhi portrait ended up in Parliament
October 03,2021 03:58:59 AM
Chakshu Roy writes: Such is its draw that the Academy displayed Lutyen's and Baker's design of the buildings of the New Capital City of Delhi at the 1914 event.
Mon, Oct 04, 2021
Explained: Anti-defection law, for independent legislators
September 29,2021 04:10:56 AM
The Tenth Schedule of the Constitution specifies the circumstances under which changing of political parties by legislators invites action under the law. It includes situations in which an independent MLA, too, joins a party after the election.
Thu, Sep 30, 2021
What Indian lawmaking needs: More scrutiny, less speed
August 24,2021 03:27:10 AM
Chakshu Roy writes: All bills should go through pre-legislative scrutiny to iron out issues and build broad consensus before being brought to Parliament.
Wed, Aug 25, 2021
Lung power, with acoustics on the House
August 15,2021 07:15:22 AM
Chakshu Roy writes: Herbert Baker, the architect of Parliament House, was aware of the critical role of acoustics in the legislative chambers.
Sun, Aug 15, 2021
Solution for disruption of Parliament: More working days
August 03,2021 03:32:59 AM
Chakshu Roy writes: Legislative body’s role must be strengthened and deepened so that disruption of proceedings ceases to be an option.
Tue, Aug 03, 2021
Explained: How are a Speaker and Deputy Speaker elected?
July 12,2021 04:00:20 AM
Maharashtra has been without a Speaker since February, while Lok Sabha and several state Assemblies are without a Deputy Speaker. How are they elected in various legislatures? Does their party affiliation matter?
Thu, Jul 15, 2021
West Bengal wants Upper House back: how states have Councils
May 20,2021 04:00:18 AM
Currently, six states — Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Karnataka — have a Legislative Council.
Sun, May 23, 2021
Anti-defection law: When a nominated MP loses Rajya Sabha membership
March 17,2021 04:27:27 AM
What is the anti-defection law because of which Dasgupta had to resign after being chosen as an election candidate?
Wed, Mar 24, 2021
Explained: The trust vote in Puducherry
February 22,2021 03:20:38 AM
As Chief Minister V Narayanasamy faces a confidence motion in the House today, contributing to his likely defeat will be the votes of three nominated MLAs who owe allegiance to the BJP. How did Puducherry come to have nominated members in its Assembly? What has the Supreme Court said in this matter earlier?
Wed, Feb 24, 2021
Over the years, poets, students, and even a village have been booked under the sedition law
February 14,2021 03:28:52 AM
Governments past and present have used a colonial-era law to charge many ‘seditious’ men and women, most recently during the farmer protests, when a series of cases were filed against journalists and politicians.
Sun, Feb 14, 2021
Parliament must ask itself whether it rigorously scrutinises constitutionality of bills before it
February 10,2021 03:05:14 AM
Lack of robust scrutiny processes weakens its image as the highest legislative institution and encourages judicial encroachment on its powers.
Wed, Feb 10, 2021