Legislative Accountability

  • February 21, 2026
  • Indian Polity

The Statesman

Legislative Accountability

 

I. Core Context

The article reflects on declining legislative accountability, using the Andhra Pradesh Assembly as a case study. It raises concerns about:

  • Reduced sittings of legislatures
  • Curtailment of debate
  • Weak oversight of the executive
  • Excessive centralisation of power

The underlying thesis is that democratic institutions weaken when legislatures fail to function as effective deliberative and supervisory bodies.

II. Key Arguments Presented

1. Decline in Legislative Functioning

The article suggests that legislative bodies are increasingly:

  • Meeting fewer days annually
  • Allowing limited debate
  • Passing bills without adequate scrutiny

This weakens the deliberative foundation of democracy.

2. Erosion of Executive Accountability

A central argument is that:

  • The executive dominates legislative proceedings
  • Question Hour and committee systems are underutilised
  • Ordinance route and rushed legislation undermine scrutiny

The legislature is portrayed as losing its checking function.

3. Weak Committee System

The article highlights:

  • Diminished effectiveness of standing committees
  • Reduced space for bipartisan scrutiny
  • Lack of robust public consultation

Committee mechanisms, once a strength of parliamentary democracy, are seen as diluted.

4. Political Majoritarianism

The piece argues that strong electoral mandates often translate into:

  • Reduced tolerance for dissent
  • Suppression of opposition voices
  • Procedural shortcuts

The risk identified is transformation of legislative bodies into approval chambers.

III. Author’s Stance

The author adopts a democratic institutionalist stance.

Tone:

  • Normative
  • Reform-oriented
  • Concerned about institutional erosion

The article frames legislative accountability as foundational to constitutional democracy and implies that executive overreach is growing.

IV. Possible Biases and Limitations

1. Selective Focus

While Andhra Pradesh is used as a case study, broader comparative data on other states or Parliament is limited.

The issue is national in scope, but the framing may appear regionally concentrated.

2. Underexplored Political Context

The article critiques executive dominance but does not fully examine:

  • Voter mandates
  • Electoral incentives
  • Fragmented opposition

Democratic accountability is not only institutional but also electoral.

3. Limited Administrative Complexity

Governance today involves complex regulatory and technological challenges.
Legislatures may be struggling with capacity gaps rather than deliberate erosion alone.

V. Pros and Cons of the Argument

Pros

• Strong defense of parliamentary democracy
• Highlights importance of debate and scrutiny
• Reinforces committee system value
• Connects accountability with transparency

Cons

• Lacks empirical depth in comparative data
• Does not deeply examine citizen engagement decline
• Minimal discussion on digital legislative reform
• Does not fully analyse political economy of majoritarian governance

VI. Policy Implications

1. Institutional Reform

  • Mandating minimum sitting days
  • Strengthening Question Hour protections
  • Mandatory pre-legislative consultation

2. Committee Revitalisation

  • Independent research staff for committees
  • Public reporting requirements
  • Time-bound scrutiny mechanisms

3. Transparency Measures

  • Live committee proceedings
  • Legislative performance dashboards
  • Citizen engagement platforms

4. Capacity Building

  • Legislative research services expansion
  • Training for MLAs/MPs
  • Non-partisan institutional strengthening

 VII. Real-World Impact

Weak legislative accountability leads to:

  • Poor-quality laws
  • Reduced public trust
  • Policy reversals
  • Increased litigation
  • Executive arbitrariness

Conversely, strong legislatures ensure:

  • Policy stability
  • Transparent governance
  • Institutional balance
  • Enhanced democratic legitimacy

VIII. UPSC Relevance

GS Paper II

• Parliament and State Legislatures – structure, functioning, conduct of business
• Separation of powers
• Role of committees
• Accountability mechanisms

GS Paper IV (Ethics)

• Public office as trust
• Institutional integrity
• Ethical leadership

Essay

• Democracy beyond elections
• Institutional decline and reforms
• Executive dominance in parliamentary systems

IX. Balanced Conclusion and Future Perspective

Legislative accountability is the oxygen of parliamentary democracy.

Elections alone do not sustain democracy; daily oversight does.

India’s democratic maturity depends not merely on strong governments but on strong institutions.

Reinvigorating legislatures requires:

  • Procedural safeguards
  • Political culture change
  • Institutional strengthening
  • Citizen vigilance

Democracy weakens quietly — through shortened debates and unattended committees — long before it collapses dramatically.

The future of governance lies in restoring legislatures to their rightful place as forums of deliberation, scrutiny, and accountability.