Devender Singh Aswal

No point in moving a no-trust motion with a sealed fate

August 1, 2023

The admission of the motion of No-Confidence in the Council of Ministers by the Speaker would hopefully bring normalcy in Parliament. It may also, in all probability, take the wind out of the sails of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha as well. The notice of the motion has been...

Parliamentary questions in times of logjams

July 18, 2023

The right to ask questions is an inherent and inalienable right of members in a parliamentary democratic set up. A question is a most versatile and powerful tool of accountability. A question may be asked to a minister on a matter of public importance within the domain of the business...

Quickly reinstate MP if conviction is stayed

March 31, 2023

A question has arisen whether a Member of Parliament convicted by a court of law and awarded imprisonment of two years or more warrants to be disqualified again by the President in terms of Article 102 read with Article 103 of the Constitution. With respect to disqualification of a Member...

Governor of provincial autonomy and national unity

February 23, 2023

The appointments of freshly retired judges and active politicians as Governors continue to stoke the old controversy. The speed with which many Governors have been appointed soon after demitting office, reminds us of the words of Hamlet in the eponymous play of William Shakespeare. Hamlet, the protagonist of the play...

In a welcome move, Uttarakhand Assembly elects woman Speaker

March 30, 2022

The state of Uttarakhand, blithely the UK, has been a trendsetter in many ways. Young and affable Pushkar Singh Dhami, who lost his seat but led the BJP to victory, has been sworn in as the new CM. Another pleasant surprise has been the election of the first woman Speaker...

The difference between split and defection

March 3, 2022

An apprehension is being vented that the judgement of the Bombay High Court bench at Goa upholding the order of the Speaker Goa Legislative Assembly with respect to merger of breakaway faction of Congress Legislature Party in the BJP may open the floodgates for defections. The order of the Speaker...

Key takeaways from the Motion of Thanks

February 11, 2022

As is customary, both the Houses of Parliament present, separately, their Motion of Thanks to the President conveying their deep gratitude for delivering an address to both the Houses assembled together on 31st January 2022, preceding the presentation of the Union Budget 2022-23. Under Article 87(1), an obligation is cast...

Cadre rule changes stir the hornets’ nest

February 4, 2022

The florid phrase ‘Minimum government and maximum governance’, is obviously not making the desired impact for want of adequate senior officers with the GoI. The move of the central government to make certain changes in the Indian Administrative Service (Cadre) Rules, 1954, aims to avail the services of IAS on...

PM’s security breach and the Constitutional machinery

January 12, 2022

The stranding of Prime Minister’s convoy in the Punjab and the national convulsion caused by the statement of the Prime Minister that he has ‘returned alive’ from the blockade—a matter of grave worry— has generated a fierce nationwide debate and protests over the grave security lapse. Allegations of all manner...

Doctors call off strike, let India resolve their problems

January 7, 2022

Nothing could perhaps be more soothing than the news of the resident doctors calling off the strike at a time when the threat of the third Corona wave-Omicron- is looming over the nation . The resident doctors were protesting over the unconscionable and inordinate delay in NEET-PG 2021 counselling. The...

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