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> Title: Discussion on the motion for consideration of the Electoral Reforms Commission Bill, 2006.

SHRI C.K. CHANDRAPPAN (TRICHUR): Sir, I beg to move:

“That the Bill to provide for setting up of an Electoral Reforms Commission and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto, be taken into consideration.”             Sir, this is a very important issue. There have been a series of efforts to reform the electoral system in India in the past. It is necessary because we are one of the largest democracies in the world and for the last 60 years, since Independence, we have been successfully practising a democratic system. It is a very vibrant democracy. We cannot claim to be the situation as same in our neighbourhood countries which became Independent along with us. So, naturally, for us, democratic system is very precious. It is for that reason that this House took up the matter in all earnestness, had discussions and had also decided to set up Commissions. But unfortunately we could not come to definite conclusions about reformation of the electoral system in our country.

          Sir, if I remember correctly, you also probably would remember as you too were a Member of the House then, there were two Commissions set up so far in the recent past. One was the Indrajit Gupta Commission on Electoral Reforms and the other was the Dinesh Goswami Commission on Electoral Reforms. Before that there was another Commission set up on electoral reforms under Shri Y.B.Chavan. I remember that when I became a Member of this House for the first time in 1971, Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee had asked for a discussion on electoral reforms. But unfortunately so far we could not come to any conclusion on this. I think, it is high time that we take a decision so that our democratic system could benefit out of this and resultantly become stronger.

          Sir, this Bill of mine is a Private Member’s Bill and thus might suffer from a few limitations. What I have proposed in this Bill is to set up a Electoral Reforms Commission. I also have prescribed its composition. The Chief Justice of India, one of the retired Election Commissioners and one of the existing Members of the Election Commission should be its Members. What I have suggested is that this Commission should go into the problems relating to elections and submit before this House their suggestions. The Government should accordingly take decisions. [R69]  Now, some of the important problems that I wanted this Commission to look into are these.  The first one is the question of State funding of elections.  Our election has become something which is unaffordable for the common man.  It is so expensive and also, in this process of election, as is complained by various quarters, muscle power, money power and other powers play a very important role.  So, there is a suggestion made by both Indrajit Gupta Committee and also the Goswami Committee.  They said that there should be State funding for elections and also ban certain other spending by private quarters so that election can be held in a manner that everybody will be on a equal footing in terms of their money power.  So far, the Government has not taken any decision about it.  I think it is high time that we must take a decision about State funding of elections.

MR. CHAIRMAN : Motion moved:

“That the Bill to provide for setting up of an Electoral Reforms Commission and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto, be taken into consideration.”   SHRI K.S. RAO (ELURU): Mr. Chairman, Sir, I thank you very much for giving me this opportunity.

Sir, my hon. friend, Shri Chandrappan, more so a Member from Kerala, is always interested in the electoral reforms. … (Interruptions) It is not only he but also the entire country is interested in electoral reforms.  More particularly, the party in the Opposition will invariably be interested in discussing this issue in depth under the apprehension that the party in power is misusing their position so that the elections are not held in a free atmosphere and they take advantage to see that their own people are elected. But when the same Opposition goes to the Ruling Benches, they forget all these things.  They forget about the reforms.  Then, they continue till the next Lok Sabha and the next Lok Sabha. This is the unfortunate situation which is prevailing in this country.  Every Member of Parliament individually, no matter which party he belongs to, is interested in electoral reforms.  He is interested in the free and fair elections. They want to ensure that no Returning Officer must be given the extra authority wherein he will misuse his position.   Even at the time of filing the nomination, he will say, he gave wrong and false information or some other information is available.   So, he might cancel the validity of the nomination itself.  He can be screened at that point itself.  That is the fear of the Members who are invariably out of power.  But they also want the same thing.  They want to get the same thing done by their Returning Officer when they are in power.  So, this is very unfortunate.  I have been seeing it in the last several Lok Sabhas. If all of us were to be sincere to see that these elections go really free, fair and they reflect the real will of the people, then absolutely there will not be any question and they will not be sitting in the pit and making slogans and asking for suspension of the Question Hour and then discussion and all those things.    If we, the Members of Parliament, were to think in absolute terms without aspiring for power by wrongful means, if all of us were to stand on the ethics and norms and say that let I may be get defeated, but I will maintain these norms, these ethics, these guidelines, these rules, we do not require somebody else to comment.[a72]  18.00 hrs. We do not require the Judiciary to interfere into our arena. If this were to be the attitude, then there need not be any discussion at all. But this discussion continues. It will continue for the next Session and after that also. So, it may continue for another 20 to 30 years. Shri Chandrappan, Members  like you will have the opportunity to open the discussion many a time. Next time also, you can open the discussion.