As Parliament Turns 75, The Story Of Its ‘Backbone’ - The Secretariat

Relevance: GS2 - Parliament and State legislatures—structure, functioning, the conduct of business, powers & privileges and issues arising out of these.

(Source: Indian Express, 09/19/2023)

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Why in the news?

• As India's Parliament marks its 75-year journey, it's crucial to acknowledge the vital role played by the Parliament secretariat.
• The secretariat serves as the backbone of Parliament, advising presiding officers, providing information to MPs, and ensuring smooth legislative functioning.

About Secretariat of Parliament

• The backbone of Parliament is an autonomous secretariat that works ceaselessly in the background to support legislative function.
• Each house of the Parliament has a separate secretarial staff of its own, whose recruitment and service conditions are regulated by the Parliament.
• The secretariat of each house is headed by a secretary general who is a permanent officer.
• Article 98 of the constitution of India deals with the secretariat of parliament.

Role of Vithalbhai Patel in forming Parliament Secretariat

• Legislative Independence Advocacy: In 1925, Vithalbhai Patel became the first elected Speaker of the Central Assembly. He advocated for a separate legislative secretariat to ensure independence, with direct control over its staff.
• Push for Legislative Security: He also pushed for a dedicated security establishment for the legislature, asserting that Assembly precincts fell under the Speaker's authority.
• Stand-Off After Central Assembly Bombing: In 1929, after Bhagat Singh and Batukeshwar Dutt threw bombs into the Central Assembly, the British administration sought to place police officers to control access to the Parliament building. Patel vehemently opposed this move, asserting that it infringed upon the Speaker's authority.
• Establishment of Legislative Autonomy: Through Patel's persistence, a separate legislative office was created in 1929, independent of the government.
• Emergence of Specialized Parliament Staff: This period marked the emergence of specialized Parliament staff, laying the foundation for effective democratic institutions in India. His efforts were instrumental in securing legislative autonomy.

The Role of Parliamentary Reporters

• Parliamentary reporters are individuals responsible for accurately reporting legislative proceedings. They play a vital role in ensuring transparency and accountability in the functioning of parliamentary bodies.
• Their primary task is to document and publish the speeches, statements, and observations made by Members of Parliament (MPs) during parliamentary sittings.
• Parliamentary reporting in India dates back to 1861, driven by the need for accurate reports to counter negative impressions on the native population.
• Over the years, the methods and practices of parliamentary reporting have evolved:
  • Early Reports: Initially, reporters produced an "abstract of the observation of members," which provided summaries or synopses of what was said during parliamentary sessions.
  • Introduction of Shorthand: With the introduction of shorthand writing, the reporting process became more efficient and accurate. This led to the transition from "abstract of observation" to "abstract of proceedings," as reporters could now capture more detailed information.
  • Verbatim Records: By the time the Central Assembly started functioning in 1921, reporters began keeping verbatim records of parliamentary proceedings. This meant that every word spoken by MPs on the House floor was accurately transcribed and documented.

Maheshwar Nath Kaul's Role in Parliament Secretariat

• M.N Kaul, a lawyer by profession, played a pivotal role in professionalizing the Parliament Secretariat and establishing its standard operating procedures.
• His contributions were significant in shaping the Indian parliamentary system and ensuring its smooth functioning.
• Kaul's journey in the world of Indian politics and governance began when he joined the legislative assembly office in 1937.
• Kaul's most significant contributions came during his tenure as the secretary of the Constituent Assembly. In this role, he played a vital part in shaping the constitutional provisions related to legislatures, ensuring that they aligned with the principles of democracy and the parliamentary system.

Post-Independence Contributions

• Assumption of Charge of Lok Sabha Secretariat: After India gained independence, Kaul assumed the charge of the Lok Sabha Secretariat, where he continued his mission to strengthen parliamentary institutions. M,N Kaul is referred to as the father of Lok Sabha secretariat.
• Creation of Parliament's Research and Reference Service: Recognizing the need to provide members of Parliament with comprehensive information to facilitate informed discussions on bills and other topics, Kaul initiated the establishment of Parliament's research and reference service, a crucial resource for lawmakers.
• Advocating for Separate Buildings: In 1956, Kaul embarked on an ambitious plan to secure separate buildings for various parliamentary functions. This included dedicated structures for the secretariat, library, committee offices, and MPs' offices, reflecting his commitment to modernizing and professionalizing the Indian parliamentary system.

Evolution of Simultaneous Interpretation Services in Lok Sabha

• Simultaneous interpretation services were requested by Lok Sabha members since its inception, but a shortage of trained personnel delayed its implementation.
• The Parliament secretariat introduced real-time interpretation in Hindi and English in 1964.
• This demanding task requires interpreters to possess knowledge of parliamentary procedures, proficiency in vocabulary, grammar, language nuances, literature, idioms, and humor.
• Presently, the Parliament secretariat provides simultaneous interpretation in 22 languages to assist Members of Parliament.

Structuring of Parliament Secretariats

• In 1974, a committee of MPs recommended the restructuring of Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha secretariats into 11 functional areas, marking a significant milestone in their development.
  • These functional areas included legislative, library research and information, verbatim reporting, editorial and translation, interpretation, printing and publication, and watch and ward (later renamed Parliament Security) service.
• Administrative Consolidation: Secretariat officers, roughly 2,200 Lok Sabha and 1,500 Rajya Sabha were organized into eight services, streamlining their functions and responsibilities.
• Constitutional Provision: The Constitution allows Parliament to regulate the recruitment and conditions of service for secretarial staff, but no such law has been enacted. Recruitment and service conditions are determined by rules set by the presiding officers of Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha.

Role of Secretary General

• The Secretary-Generals in Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha are appointed by the respective presiding officers, providing them with a certain level of discretion in the selection process.
  • For example, the Rajya Sabha recruitment order specifies that the Chairperson of Rajya Sabha shall make the appointment to the post of the Secretary-General.
• Constitutional and Statutory Advisers: Secretary-Generals serve as advisers to the presiding officers of the two Houses, aiding them in fulfilling their constitutional and statutory responsibilities.
• Advising on House Matters: They provide advice on various matters related to the functioning of the House and its committees, ensuring the smooth conduct of parliamentary affairs.
• Administrative Leadership: In their capacity as the head of the respective secretariats, Secretary-Generals oversee the administration of the House and its secretariat.

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FAQs

MCQ

Question: With reference to Lok Sabha, consider the following statements:

1. It is also known as the House of the People.
2. It is the upper house of the Parliament of India.
3. India has a bicameral Parliament consisting of the upper house and the lower house.

How many of the above statements are correct?

(a) Only one

(b) Only two

(c) All three

(d) None