Editorial 1: ​ Reviving a far-sighted but forgotten Bill mechanism

Context

The Private Member’s Bill holds the potential to greatly enrich India’s legislative framework, serving as a valuable source of innovative and impactful lawmaking.

Introduction

Private Member’s Bills (PMBs) let MPs who are not Ministers propose their own laws. While most laws come from the government, PMBs come from individual MPs, whether in the ruling party or the Opposition. Fridays are usually set aside to discuss them. They are one of the few chances MPs have to act independently. But PMBs are now mostly ignored due to disruptions, early adjournments, and focus on government business, making them more symbolic than serious. This is a sign of democratic decline.

PMB trends, 17th and 18th Lok Sabha

The Declining Role of Private Member’s Bills in Indian Parliament

Since Independence, only 14 Private Member’s Bills (PMBs) have been passed and received Presidential assent. Alarmingly, none has cleared both Houses since 1970.

1. Trends in the 17th and 18th Lok Sabha

• During the 17th Lok Sabha (2019–24), a total of 729 PMBs were introduced in the Lok Sabha and 705 in the Rajya Sabha.
  • However, only 2 in the Lok Sabha and 14 in the Rajya Sabha were ever discussed.
• In the ongoing 18th Lok Sabha, only 20 MPs have introduced PMBs so far.
  • During the Inaugural and Budget Sessions (2024), 64 PMBs were introduced in the Lok Sabha, but none were taken up for discussion.

2. Sessional Disruptions and Loss of Deliberation Space

• In the Winter Session, two Fridays in the Lok Sabha were lost to disruptions, while one was used for a general discussion on the Constitution.
• In the Budget Session, the first Friday — typically reserved for PMBs — was used to debate the Union Budget.
  • Only one Friday saw any PMB-related activity, limited to just a resolution.
• In the Rajya Sabha, of the 82 PMBs listed, 49 were introduced on a single Friday, but only one was taken up for discussion, which too was cut short due to adjournment sine die.

PMBs as Platforms for Innovation and Representation

1. Despite institutional neglect, PMBs remain crucial for expressing:

• Personal convictions
• Constituency needs
• Emerging social concerns

2. Progressive Example: Right to Disconnect Bill (2019)

• Introduced by Supriya Sule (NCP) in the Lok Sabha on October 28, 2019, this Bill proposed a legal right for employees to disengage from work communication outside office hours.
• Though it didn’t move past the initial stage, it triggered national debate on mental health, work-life balance, and labour rights in the digital age.

3. Tangible Impact: Rights of Transgender Persons Bill (2014)

• Brought forward by Tiruchi Siva (DMK) in the Rajya Sabha, it became the first PMB in over four decades to be passed by a House of Parliament.
• Though it wasn’t passed in the Lok Sabha, it laid the foundation for the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act, 2019 — later introduced by the government.

4. Ruling Party Interventions

• PMBs also offer space for ruling party MPs to express independent thinking.
• BJP MP Gopal Chinayya Shetty’s Bill sought free healthcare for senior citizens in both government and private hospitals — showcasing how even Treasury Bench members can raise constituency-driven issues.

Shrinking space for independent action

• Institutional changes have significantly reduced the space for individual legislative initiative in Parliament.
• The 52nd Constitutional Amendment introduced the Anti-Defection Law (Tenth Schedule) to promote political stability.
• However, this law has had the unintended consequence of curbing the independence of MPs, especially those on the Treasury Benches, by discouraging deviation from the party line.
• In such a highly structured environment, Private Member’s Bills (PMBs) remain one of the few platformswhere MPs across party lines can propose constructive policy alternatives.
• Although voters often choose candidates based on party symbols, their decisions are also shaped by the individual MP’s integrity, expertise, and constituency track record.
• MPs are elected not just to echo party positions, but to represent the aspirations and concerns of their constituents.
• To preserve and strengthen the PMB process, there is an urgent need for procedural and structural reforms in Parliament.

Reforms to pursue

Conclusion

The Vice President of India and Chairman of the Rajya Sabha, Jagdeep Dhankhar, has underscored the importance of Private Member’s Business (PMB) in strengthening democratic processes. He referred to PMBs as "far-sighted, forward-looking, and a gold mine" for India’s legislative development. His remarks highlight the immense value and untapped potential of this mechanism when approached with genuine intent and commitment.