Sambhav-2025

Approach Introduce by defining collective responsibility and its constitutional basis in India. Explain how collective responsibility operates in the Indian parliamentary system. Discuss its impact on governance, including its advantages and challenges with examples, case laws, and constitutional provisions to substantiate arguments. Conclude suitably.

Introduction

Collective responsibility is a fundamental feature of the parliamentary system, ensuring that the Council of Ministers acts as a unified entity. Article 75(3) of the Indian Constitution mandates that the Council of Ministers is collectively responsible to the Lok Sabha, meaning that the government must act as one, and any policy decision is binding on all ministers.

Body

How Collective Responsibility Operates in India:

• Cabinet Decisions Binding on All Ministers:
  • Even if an individual minister disagrees, they must support government decisions publicly.
  • Example: The introduction of the Agnipath scheme (2022) was collectively defended by the government in Parliament to address public concerns.
• Council of Ministers is Answerable to Lok Sabha:
  • If a no-confidence motion is passed, the entire government resigns.
  • Example: The government led by Atal Bihari Vajpayee(1999) fell after losing a no-confidence motion by just one vote.
    • This highlights that the failure of the government in Parliament means the resignation of the entire Council of Ministers, not just an individual.
• Role of Prime Minister as Leader of the Cabinet:
  • The Prime Minister, as the leader of the Cabinet, coordinates policies, chairs meetings, directs governance, ensures collective responsibility, advises the President, and acts as the chief executive in parliamentary democracy.
  • The Prime Minister's resignation leads to the automatic dissolution of the entire Council of Ministers.

Impact on Governance:

• Advantages:
  • Enhances Accountability: Ministers must explain and defend policies in Parliament (Question Hour, Debates, Committees, No-confidence motions, and Parliamentary Reports).
    • Example: Parliamentary debates on the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (2016) ensured accountability and transparency before its enactment.
  • Strengthens Cabinet Discipline: Prevents ministers from contradicting government policies.
    • Example: GST implementation (2017) required alignment across multiple ministries and states, ensuring uniformity in tax structure.
  • Ensures Political Stability: Promotes unified decision-making and prevents individual ministers from acting independently.
• Challenges:
  • Encourages Centralization of Power: The cabinet may dominate decision-making, limiting ministerial autonomy.
    • Example: COVID-19 lockdown and economic relief packages were largely driven by centralized decision-making, with limited state-level discretion.
  • Weakens Ministerial Independence: Ministers sometimes implement policies without detailed deliberation due to collective responsibility.
    • Example: The Farm Laws (2020) and their subsequent repeal (2021) highlighted the need for greater internal consultations.
  • Coalition Politics Dilutes Responsibility: Regional parties in coalitions may pressure the government, affecting decision-making.
    • Example: The delay in implementing the Women’s Reservation Bill (which was passed in 2023) reflects coalition-based decision-making.

Conclusion

Collective responsibility is vital for ensuring policy uniformity, stability, and accountability in governance. However, there is a need to balance it with greater intra-cabinet discussions, decentralization of decision-making, and parliamentary oversight to maintain democratic governance while respecting diverse viewpoints.