CHAPTER – XIII
LEADERS/CHIEF
WHIPS/WHIPS OF OPPOSITION PARTIES/GROUPS
Institution of Leaders/Chief Whips and Whips
13.1 The
smooth functioning of the Parliamentary system depends, to a large extent, on
the efficiency of the party machinery in the legislatures. The leaders and chief
whips of parties and groups in Parliament are important party functionaries who
play a vital role in the proper functioning of the parties and groups in
legislatures and, hence, fulfil an important public purpose.
The duty of maintaining discipline and decorum in the House devolves upon
the Speaker, the Leader of the House and the leaders and whips of political
parties. The Minister of Parliamentary Affairs as Chief Whip of the ruling party
in the Indian Parliament is responsible for the smooth conduct of business in
the two Houses of Parliament, along with other parliamentary functionaries
mentioned above.
Monitoring Group of All India Whips’ Conference
13.2 The
12th All India Whips’ Conference held at Srinagar on August 21 and
22, 1997 had inter-alia recommended setting up of a monitoring group under the
chairmanship of the Union Minister of Parliamentary Affairs to watch the
progress of implementation of the recommendations of the 12th All
India Whips’ Conference and the views expressed in its plenary Sessions.
13.3
At its first meeting held on May 17, 2000 in New Delhi, the Monitoring
Group divided itself into two sub-committees for going to the various States to
study and assess the stage of implementation of the recommendations of the
Whips’ conference.
13.4
During the period under report, the Minister of Parliamentary Affairs and
Health & Family Welfare, in her capacity as Chairman of the Monitoring
Group, held a meeting on September 24, 2003 with the convenor/joint convenor of
the two sub-committees of the Monitoring Group to discuss the future course of
action for expediting submission of
reports of the sub-committees and the Monitoring Group.
13.5
During the period under report meetings of sub-committee ‘A’ and
‘B’ were held as under:
Sub-Committee ‘A’
6.1.2004
29.1.2004
Sub-Committee ‘B’
30.1.2004
In the meetings held on January 29 and 30, 2004, sub-Committees ‘A’
and ‘B’ respectively adopted their reports for presentation to the
Monitoring Group.
Facilities for Chief Whips/Whips
13.6
The 11th All India Whips’ Conference held at Bangalore in
January, 1994 as well as 12th All India Whips’ Conference held at
Srinagar in August, 1997 had recommended for extending certain facilities to the
whips of recognised parties in Parliament and state legislatures.
13.7
After consideration of the matter as a whole, and to implement the
recommendations made by the All India Whips’ Conference in this regard in
respect of the centre, the “Leaders and Chief Whips of Recognised Parties and
Groups in Parliament (Facilities) Bill, 1998”
was introduced in the Lok Sabha on 16.12.1998. The Bill was considered
and passed by Lok Sabha on 18.12.1998 and was considered and passed by the Rajya
Sabha on 21.12.1998. The Bill received the assent of the President of India on
7.1.1999 and was enacted as “The Leaders and Chief Whips of Recognised Parties
and Groups in Parliament (Facilities) Act, 1998” [Act No. 5 of 1999].
13.8
The Act provides for extending certain secretarial and telephone
facilities to the leaders and chief whips of the recognised parties and groups
in both Houses of Parliament.
13.9
The Leaders and Chief Whips of Recognised Parties and Groups in
Parliament (Telephone and Secretarial Facilities) Rules, 1999 were made under
the Act and notified on February 4,
1999.
13.10
The Leaders and Chief Whips of Recognised Parties and Groups in
Parliament (Facilities) Amendment Bill, 2000 was introduced in the Lok Sabha on
15.5.2000. The Bill was passed by the Lok Sabha on 16.5.2000 and by the Rajya
Sabha on 17.5.2000. The Bill received assent of the President on 7.6.2000. The
Bill inter-alia provided for extending the facilities to the deputy leaders of
the recognised parties and groups also.
13.11
The Leaders and Chief Whips of Recognised Parties and Groups in
Parliament (Telephone and Secretarial Facilities) Amendment Rules, 2000 were
notified in the Gazette on July 3, 2000. The amendment rules inter-alia provided
for enhancing the telephone facilities to the leaders, deputy leaders and chief
whips.
Meeting with Chief Whips/Whips of various Political Parties/Groups in
Parliament
13.12
The Minister of Parliamentary Affairs holds meetings with the chief
whips/whips of various political parties/groups in Parliament during every
session to discuss matters of mutual interest.
During the period under report, the meetings were held as under:
S.No. Date of
meeting
Meeting with Chief Whips/Whips of political parties in
1.
19.2.2003
Rajya Sabha
2.
20.2.2003
Lok Sabha
3.
6.8.2003
Lok Sabha
4. 17.12.2003 Rajya Sabha
Liaison with Leaders of various Parties/Groups represented in Parliament
13.13
This Ministry makes necessary arrangements/coordinates the meeting of
leaders of various political parties/groups in Parliament convened by the
Hon’ble Prime Minister and other Union Ministers.
During the year 2003, the following meetings were held: -
1.
On March 7, 2003, the Hon’ble Prime Minister held a meeting with
leaders of various political parties in Parliament to discuss the Women's
Reservation Bill;
2.
On March 10, 2003, the Hon’ble Prime Minister held a meeting with
leaders of various political parties to discuss the evolving situation after the
American military action on Iraq;
3.
Minister of Parliamentary Affairs and Health & Family Welfare
convened an all-party meeting with leaders of all political parties in
Parliament on March 13, 2003 to discuss delimitation of electoral
constituencies;
4.
On March 22, 2003, the Hon’ble Prime Minister held another round of
meeting with leaders of various political parties in Parliament to discuss the
current situation in Iraq;
5.
On July 25, 2003, the Hon’ble Prime Minister held a meeting with
leaders of various political parties in Parliament to discuss the functioning of
the public distribution system; and
6.
Minister of Law and Justice convened an all party meeting with leaders of
recognised national and state level political parties in Parliament on 29th
October, 2003 to discuss the electoral reforms.
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