Do you think Members of Parliament should be fined for unruly scenes, frequent adjournments and disruptions in the Lok Sabha leading to loss of valuable working hours and wastage of public money? Give your views and suggestions.

Views in favour of a penalty:

1. Parliament is maintained out of public money and every hour of a sitting costs the taxpayer a considerable amount. Disruptions waste this money.
2. Frequent adjournments reduce the time available for law-making, discussion of the Budget and scrutiny of the Executive, so important Bills are passed without proper debate.
3. Members are elected to represent their constituencies; unruly scenes amount to a failure to discharge that trust and set a poor example for citizens.

Views against a penalty:

1. The Opposition often resorts to protest because it is not given adequate time to raise urgent issues; a fine could be misused by the ruling majority to silence dissent.
2. The Speaker already has disciplinary powers — he/she may order unruly members to withdraw, may suspend a member who disregards the authority of the Chair, and may adjourn the House in case of grave disorder.

My suggestions:

1. The Speaker should use the existing powers of naming and suspension firmly and impartially, and the day's allowance of a member named for grave disorder may be deducted.
2. All parties should agree to a code of conduct for the House.
3. More time should be allotted to the Opposition for raising matters of public importance so that disruption is not the only means of being heard.
4. Sittings lost due to disruption should be made up by extending the session, so that the loss falls on the members rather than on the public.
5. Live telecast of the proceedings should be used to make members answerable to their own voters for their conduct.