Parties should find workable solution on frequent ordinances: President Pranab

New Delhi: President Pranab Mukherjee on Monday asked ruling and opposition parties to put their heads together and find out a workable solution, apparently to avoid resort to frequent issuing of ordinances.

In comments that have come against the backdrop of a raging debate on a spate of ordinances promulgated by the NDA government, he acknowledged that the Constitution provided for promulgation of ordinance in extraordinary situation but this route cannot and should not be taken for normal legislation.

Addressing faculty and students of central universities and research institutions through video conferencing, he referred to situations when the ruling party may not have a majority in the Rajya Sabha but felt a joint session of Parliament to make up for numbers to enact laws “is not practical.”

“It is the responsibility of entire political establishment to put their heads together and work out a workable solution.

“The opposition can oppose, expose and possibly depose, if they have the numbers. But always keep in mind, it is the collective responsibility of the elected members of the House whether directly elected to the Lok Sabha or through states in Rajya Sabha….

“I ask the political establishment to engage in a dialogue and resolve their differences,” he said in reply to questions on his views on frequent resort to ordinance route by the Executive.

The President’s views assume significance in the context of the Modi government promulgating nine ordinances including on opening the insurance sector to higher foreign investment after Parliament was paralysed in the winter session.

The President, on one occasion, had called a battery of ministers including Finance Minister Arun Jaitley and raised questions over the urgency of the ordinance relating to acquisition of land. However, he later gave assent to it.

Explaining the ordinance making powers under the Constitution, he said when the government issues ordinances, it is also taking the risk of getting it lapsed if they cannot get it approved by the Houses both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha within a maximum period of six months.

He said Constitution had all the safeguards to ensure that such a provision is meant only for “an extraordinary situation under extraordinary circumstances.”

Replying to another question, Mukherjee disapproved of the frequent disruptions in Parliament and legislative Assemblies.

“It is incumbent on the ruling party and opposition to sit together and find a workable solution to avoid disruptions. Disruptions is not the way to Parliamentary intervention. Disruptions will only showcase energy but does not allow others to make their voice heard.

“The ruling party has a major role in running of Parliament and should take initiative and the opposition should cooperate because only informed discussion and dialogue in the spirit of accommodation should allow enactment of law for betterment of people.

“I request both ruling and opposition parties to share their concerns to see that disruptions be avoided and Parliament should start functioning,” he said.

PTI