‘Planned disruptions weakening Parliament’: Speaker warns House disruptions are weakening democracy

Chandigarh: Addressing the second Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) India Region Zone-II Conference in Chandigarh, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla said that repeated interruptions and disruptions in legislative proceedings are weakening the functioning of democratic institutions and undermining public trust in governance.

He emphasised that the solution to this issue lies within legislative bodies themselves, calling for improved conduct among members, greater emphasis on dialogue, and more meaningful discussions during sessions. He added that strengthening public trust remains one of the most important responsibilities of elected representatives.

The conference was inaugurated by Birla on Monday and concluded with a valedictory address by Haryana Governor Ashim Kumar Ghosh. It brought together presiding officers from 12 states, including Haryana, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Delhi, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Goa, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Sikkim and West Bengal.

In his remarks, Birla highlighted that the vision of a developed India (Viksit Bharat 2047) depends on strong legislative institutions, greater citizen participation, and improved policy awareness. He stressed the importance of increasing youth and women participation in democratic processes and strengthening constitutional awareness from an early age.

The conference adopted four key resolutions focusing on strengthening legislative-citizen engagement, promoting constitutional values, and improving the responsible use of technology in governance. Delegates agreed that digital tools, artificial intelligence and data-driven systems can improve transparency, efficiency and service delivery in public administration.

Deputy Chairman of the Rajya Sabha Harivansh Narayan Singh also participated in the discussions, along with speakers from various state assemblies.

Leaders including Madhya Pradesh Legislative Assembly Speaker Narendra Singh Tomar, Rajasthan Assembly Speaker Vasudev Devnani, Uttar Pradesh Assembly Speaker Satish Mahana, Himachal Pradesh Assembly Speaker Kuldeep Singh Pathania, and Jammu and Kashmir Assembly Speaker Abdul Rahim Rather shared views on improving legislative efficiency, accountability and research-based lawmaking.

Speakers collectively underlined that India’s unity in diversity remains a major strength and that coordinated efforts among states are essential to achieving national development goals. The conference also highlighted the need for continuous capacity building of legislators through training, exposure to best practices and the use of modern technology in governance.

Participants further stressed strengthening oversight mechanisms in legislatures and increasing citizen involvement in policy formulation to ensure more responsive governance aligned with the Viksit Bharat 2047 vision.