Take ordinance route sparingly, says Pranab

Mukesh Ranjan

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, July 23

Noting that the Constitution represents the “hopes and aspirations of a billion people”, President Pranab Mukherjee today underscored the need to uphold it. He said this at a function held in the Central Hall of Parliament, where lawmakers of the two Houses gathered to bid him farewell.

The President also gave a piece of his mind to the executive by claiming: “I am firm in my opinion that the ordinance route should be used only in compelling circumstances and there should be no recourse to ordinance in monetary matters.”

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Though he did not refer to any specific case, during his tenure in the Rashtrapati Bhavan, the Modi government had promulgated the Enemy Property Ordinance at least five times as the Opposition was against some provisions of the law.

The ordinance route should also not be taken in matters that have been introduced in Parliament or are being considered by a House committee. “If a matter is deemed urgent, the committee concerned should be made aware of the situation and mandated to present its report within the stipulated time,” he said. Pranab will demit office on July 25 and his successor Ram Nath Kovind will formally take over the post the same day. 

Highlighting the importance of three Ds — debate, dissent and discussion —Pranab said, “Legislation must be preceded by scrutiny and adequate discussion... if we fail to do this, it breaches the trust of the country.”

Pranab praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi for “transformational changes” in the country. The recent passage of the flagship Goods and Services Tax (GST) and its launch on July 1 “is a shining example of cooperative federalism and speaks volumes for maturity of India’s Parliament”, he added.

Going down memory lane, Pranab said he was “mentored” by late Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, whose “steely determination, clarity of thought and decisive action made her a towering personality”. He recalled that during a visit to London with Gandhi after the Emergency, she had told journalists: “In those 21 months, we comprehensively managed to alienate all sections of Indian people.”

Earlier, Speaker Sumitra Mahajan said Pranab was respected for his impeccable knowledge of constitutional and parliamentary rules and procedures and exemplary memory of events and precedents. “You have been a “guru” from whom generations of parliamentarians have received lessons on the operational dynamics of our parliamentary polity,” she said.

Rajya Sabha Chairman Hamid Ansari said his views and pronouncements on issues of national and international importance has enhanced the stature of the high offices held by him. 

“From the highest pedestal, he has, on several occasions, urged citizens to rededicate themselves to the cause of upholding the democratic values. He has spoken with conviction about India's pluralism and diversity being her greatest strength and the need to constantly nurture and protect these,” he said.