Model Answer
0 min readIntroduction
In legislative parlance, the ‘guillotine’ refers to a procedural device employed in the Lok Sabha during the Budget Session to fast-track the passage of financial business. Derived from its historical meaning of a swift execution device, in Parliament, it signifies the abrupt conclusion of debates on various demands for grants. This mechanism is crucial for ensuring that the Union Budget, which comprises the Appropriation Bill and the Finance Bill, is passed within the constitutional timeline, typically by March 31st, to avoid administrative and financial paralysis. It is a common, though often debated, feature of India's parliamentary democracy.
Understanding the Guillotine Procedure
The guillotine is a type of closure motion. Its application involves a specific sequence of parliamentary actions during the Budget Session:
- Budget Presentation and Recess: After the Union Budget is presented, Parliament usually goes into a three-week recess. During this period, Departmentally Related Standing Committees scrutinize the Demands for Grants of various ministries and prepare reports.
- Business Advisory Committee (BAC) Role: Upon Parliament reconvening, the Business Advisory Committee (BAC) allocates time for discussions on these Demands for Grants. However, due to time constraints and the sheer volume of ministries, it is impossible to discuss every demand individually.
- Application of Guillotine: On the last day allocated for budgetary discussions, the Speaker of the Lok Sabha applies the 'guillotine.' This means that all outstanding Demands for Grants, whether discussed or not, are put to a vote simultaneously. This ensures that the entire budgetary process, including the Appropriation Bill and the Finance Bill, is completed on time.
Evaluation of the Procedure
The guillotine procedure has both merits and demerits:
Advantages:
- Timely Budget Passage: The primary advantage is ensuring the timely passage of the annual budget, which is essential for the government to commence its financial operations and implement schemes without delay.
- Administrative Continuity: It prevents political stalling and potential governmental shutdowns, maintaining fiscal discipline and continuity of essential services.
- Focus on Key Ministries: It allows Parliament to concentrate its limited time on debating the Demands for Grants of crucial ministries identified by the BAC, such as Defence, Finance, and Home Affairs.
Disadvantages:
- Reduced Scrutiny: A significant criticism is that many Demands for Grants, and consequently, substantial public expenditure, pass without adequate debate or scrutiny by elected representatives.
- Impact on Accountability: This lack of detailed examination can undermine parliamentary accountability and transparency, weakening the legislature's 'power of the purse' over the executive.
- Hasty Enactments: It can lead to the hasty passage of financial provisions, which may not be thoroughly thought through or critically analyzed, potentially impacting policy effectiveness.
Conclusion
While the 'guillotine' is an indispensable parliamentary tool for expediting the budgetary process and ensuring governmental functionality, its uncritical application raises concerns about democratic deliberation and accountability. It strikes a crucial balance between parliamentary efficiency and comprehensive scrutiny. Moving forward, strengthening the Departmentally Related Standing Committees, enhancing transparency in their reports, and exploring technological solutions for broader public and expert engagement could improve the quality of financial oversight, even with the continued use of this necessary, albeit imperfect, procedural device.
Answer Length
This is a comprehensive model answer for learning purposes and may exceed the word limit. In the exam, always adhere to the prescribed word count.