President Pranab Mukherjee on Monday strongly conveyed that the ruling and opposition parties should find a workable solution on law-making and avoid issuing ordinances for normal legislations.
During a video conference with the students of Central Universities, IITs, NITs and other institutions, Mukherjee said that the government has limited powers to issue ordinances or emergency executive orders. He said that the constitution provides scope of issuing ordinances in extraordinary situation but this route cannot and should not be taken for normal legislation.
Citing the present scenario when the ruling party doesn’t have majority in Rajya Sabha, Mukherjee said, “It is the responsibility of entire political establishment to put their heads together and work out a workable solution. The opposition can oppose, expose and possibly depose, if they have the numbers. But always keep in mind; it is the collective responsibility of the elected members of the House whether directly elected to the Lok Sabha or through states in Rajya Sabha.”
He further added, “I ask the political establishment to engage in a dialogue and resolve their differences,” he said in reply to questions on his views on frequent resort to ordinance route by the Executive.
The President’s views assume significance in the context of the Narendra Modi government promulgating nine ordinances including on opening the insurance sector to higher foreign investment after Parliament was paralysed in the winter session.
