Should Budget Speech constitute 'Assurances'?

New Delhi, Oct 31 (UNI) A day long conference of Chairmen of Committees on Government Assurances of Parliament and State legislatures here began its deliberations, among other things, on whether the announcements made by Finance Minister in his budget speech should constitute 'Assurances'.

Inaugurating the conference, Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee said there was need to discuss as to what extent a budget announcement by the Finance Minister could be considered as an 'assurance' for the purpose of legislative scrutiny.

Mr Chatterjee said the Finance Minister made announcements in his Budget speech with due provision for allocation during that particular financial year.

"Logically, any such announcements need to be implemented within the framework of the provisions made in the Budget," he said.

While noting that the Committee on Government Assurances ought to take a balanced view during the scrutiny of ministerial assurances as the Executive "may face unforeseen hurdles and, therefore, may take more time than expected in the implementation of the assurances," the Speaker cautioned against taking a confrontational stance in the committees functioning.

He said the Committees were part of the same state structure and the goal of improving the conditions in the country remained common to the Executive and the Legislature.

He however added the Committee should ensure that the Administration ''does not evade or escape its reponsibility in implementing, without delay, the assurances given by the Ministers in the House.

Mr Chatterjee however regretted the Committee very often was faced with the problem of not receiving the replies from the concerned departments in a proper manner. "Evasive or incomplete replies is a major problem, which the committee has to deal with effectively," he said, while observing that lackadaisical attitude on the part of the Executive Departments is totally antithetical to the principle of Executive accountability to the legislature.

While appreciating the Committee on Government Assurances of the Lok Sabha, over the years, had made some very important recommendations of far-reaching significance, the Lok Sabha Speaker emphasised the need to evolve some mechanism by the Union Government to make it obligatory on their part to furnish the required information to Parliament promptly.

The Conference should deliberate on the varied mechanisms to improve the system of arriving at a realistic time frame for implementation of the assurances made on the floor of the House, he added.

UNI KAS LS HT1622