Manish Tewari's Bill: Redefining Parliamentary Independence

Congress MP Manish Tewari has proposed a bill in Lok Sabha aiming to grant parliamentarians more freedom in voting on certain legislative matters, challenging the influence of party whips and promoting independent decision-making. This bill seeks to amend the Anti-Defection Law for better lawmaking and democratic functionality.

Congress MP Manish Tewari has introduced a private member's bill in the Lok Sabha, aiming to grant parliamentarians greater freedom in voting decisions on bills and motions, except those crucial to government stability, like confidence and financial matters. This move challenges the current dominance of the party whip system and seeks to enhance democratic decision-making.

Tewari's bill, which has been tabled for the third time after its previous introductions in 2010 and 2021, proposes significant amendments to the Anti-Defection Law. The bill emphasizes the need for legislators to act as representatives of the people rather than being bound by party mandates, which currently convert them into mere numerical support with little individual legislative input.

The proposal calls for establishing judicial tribunals to handle related legal matters, aiming to elevate the quality of parliamentary debate and lawmaking by encouraging legislators to engage deeply with legislative processes and international best practices, free from coercive party directives.

(With inputs from agencies.)