Jou nal o Resea ch and De elopmen
A Mul idisciplina y In e na ional Le el Re e ed and Double Blind Pee Re iewed, Open Access
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Challenges be o e he Indian Cons i u ion and Pa liamen a y Democ acy
D . B. M. Dahalake
Asso. P o & HOD, Poli ical Science Raje
Ram ao Maha idyalaya, Ja h Dis .Sangli
Email: [email protected]
Manusc ip ID:
JRD -2025-170914
ISSN: 2230-9578
Volume 17
Issue 9 (V)
Pp. 57-60
Sep . 2025
Submi ed:15 Aug. 2025
Re ised: 25 Aug. 2025
Accep ed: 10 Sep . 2025
Published: 30 Sep . 2025
Abs ac The Indian Cons i u ion, inspi ed by global democ a ic adi ions and oo ed in indigenous
alues, has se ed as he backbone o he wo ld’s la ges pa liamen a y democ acy since 1950. Despi e i s
comp ehensi e amewo k and endu ing adap abili y, he sys em aces pe sis en challenges ha h ea en
i s democ a ic e hos. These include he c iminaliza ion o poli ics, co up ion, communaliza ion, excessi e
use o money and muscle powe in elec ions, weakening o pa liamen a y unc ioning, ede al ensions,
judicial-execu i e con lic s, and h ea s o secula ism. These issues e ode public us , educe
accoun abili y, and weaken democ a ic ins i u ions. Add essing hese challenges equi es legal e o ms,
poli ical will, alue-based educa ion, and ac i e ci izen pa icipa ion. S eng hening pa liamen a y
democ acy is essen ial o p ese e cons i u ional alues and ensu e inclusi e na ional de elopmen .
Keywo ds: Pa liamen , Democ acy, Cons i u ion and Adminis a ion.
In oduc ion:
Pa liamen a y democ acy is he one o he mos amous go e nmen al sys em is ound
in he wo ld poli ics and ge o igina ed in B i ain. I is based on sup emacy o pa liamen which
consis s o mainly wo houses namely UPPER HOUSE and LOWERHOUSE. Uppe house
ep esen s he s a es o uni s o special classes o he na ion and Lowe house ep esen s o
elec ed by he common people o ha na ion. Fo example – B i ain he mo he o pa liamen a y
democ acy, also called as wes minis e model o go e nmen consis s o wo houses namely
House o Lo ds as Uppe House and House o Commons as Lowe House and also B i ish
C own ans e ed h ough he edi a y. In Indian scena io, a e he eedom s uggle o 300yea s
o long blood and swea o Indians go independence on 15 h Augus 1947 and implemen ed
hei own Cons i u ion on 26 h Janua y 1950. Membe s o Cons i uen Assembly inspi ed and
in luenced by wo ld’s con empo a y poli ics, especially F ench, Russian and Ame ican
Re olu ions and a ious Cons i u ions o he wo ld. The B i ain hough c uelly uled India as a
colony o hei economic gains and bene i s also in luenced by i s poli ical sys em and
adminis a ional mechanism. These a e inspi a ions, Indian local cus oms and adi ions along
wi h g ea es con ibu ions and unma chable leade ship o D . B R Ambedka he Cons i u ion
o India amed and implemen ed. The P eamble o Cons i u ion o India indica es and decla es
India is a – So e eign, Socialis , Secula , Democ a ic and Republic wi h he base o
Pa liamen a y Sup emacy. The Indian pa liamen consis s o The P esiden o India, and he wo
houses, called as Counsil o S a es i.e Rajya Sabha is a Uppe house and ep esen s Indian S a es
and House o he People i.e Lok Sabha is a Lowe house which is elec ed by he common
public.
The Indian Cons i u ion, d a ed wi h he ision o c ea ing a so e eign, socialis ,
secula , and democ a ic epublic, is among he mos de ailed cons i u ions in he wo ld. O e he
yea s, he Cons i u ion has e ol ed h ough amendmen s, judicial in e p e a ions, and poli ical
discou se. Howe e , despi e i s adap abili y, i aces nume ous challenges ha h ea en i s
ounda ional p inciples. This pape aims o analyze some o he majo conce ns and challenges
ha con on he Indian Cons i u ion oday.
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Add ess o co espondence:
D . B. M. Dahalake, Asso. P o & HOD, Poli ical Science Raje Ram ao Maha idyalaya, Ja h Dis .Sangli
How o ci e his a icle:
B. M. Dahalake (2025). Challenges be o e he Indian Cons i u ion and Pa liamen a y
Democ acy. Jou nal o Resea ch & De elopmen , 17(9), 57-60
O iginal A icle
Jou nal o Resea ch and De elopmen
A Mul idisciplina y In e na ional Le el Re e ed and Double Blind Pee Re iewed, Open Access
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These include he issues o judicial independence, secula ism, ede alism, elec o al in eg i y, ese a ions,
p i acy igh s, and he Uni o m Ci il Code. By examining hese issues h ough cons i u ional p o isions, case laws,
and legisla i e de elopmen s, his s udy seeks o o e insigh s in o how hese challenges can be add essed while
p ese ing he spi i o he Cons i u ion.
Objec i es O The S udy:
1. To unde s and he meaning o Pa liamen a y democ acy in i s di e en aspec s;
2. To iden i y majo p oblems, issues and challenges being aced by Indian democ acy;
3. To analyze he co ec i e measu es o imp o ing he Indian democ a ic sys em.
Pa liamen a y Democ acy Issues
All s akeholde s ha e o wo k uni edly o ind las ing solu ions o sa egua d pa liamen a y democ acy om
he emendous s ains expe ienced oday and o s eng hen i . India had he g ea bene i o s a ing i s jou ney unde
he leade ship o Jawaha lal Neh u du ing he de ining yea s o i s eedom, and a g ea line-up o isiona y and
sagacious men and women p o ided e ec i e leade ship in he ask o consolida ing democ acy and in laying he
ins i u ional ounda ions o he epublic. Jawaha lal Neh u, as p esiden o he Indian Na ional Cong ess, decla ed in
1936 ha India’s ul ima e objec i e was “ he es ablishmen o a democ a ic s a e,” a so e eign s a e which would
p omo e and os e “ ull democ acy” and ushe in a new social and economic o de . A s udy indica ed ha in he i s
h ee yea s o he 14 h Lok Sabha, 26 pe cen o pa liamen a y ime has been los due o dis up ions. Du ing he budge
session his yea , he Lok Sabha los 73 hou s (34 pe cen o i s ime) due o diso de . Only 11 o he slo ed 25 Bills
we e passed in he monsoon session. In ha session, he Lok Sabha los 40 pe cen o i s ime due o adjou nmen s, and
he Rajya Sabha los 49 pe cen . Fou Bills we e passed wi hou discussion in he Lok Sabha. I he Lok Sabha wo ked
124 hou s in he monsoon session o 2006, i wo ked only 65 hou s in he monsoon session o 2007. Each minu e o
pa liamen a y ime cos s he public excheque o he une o abou Rs.26,000. In ole ance, di isi eness, co up ion,
con on a ions and dis espec o dissen a e inc easingly i ia ing ou socio-poli ical sys em. Added o his is he
a emp by some ins i u ions o malign and ma ginalize impo an people’s o ums wi h in en o occupy la ge space
han wha is ideally easible o cons i u ionally pe missible in a ep esen a i e democ a ic sys em. Judicial ac i ism is
sough o be jus i ied because o he pe cei ed decline in he e ec i eness o pa liamen a y accoun abili y. F equen
in e en ions in he exclusi e ju isdic ion o he legisla u e will only con ibu e o u he e oding he au ho i y o
Pa liamen . By expelling 10 MPs o hei in ol emen in he ‘cash- o -que y’ scam, and by suspending o he s o
di e en pe iods o a ious misdemeano s, Pa liamen has se an example. Bu hese ini ia i es a e no p ojec ed
p ope ly o help enhance people’s espec o democ a ic ins i u ions. I can also be a gued ha powe is mo e e enly
sp ead ou in pa liamen a y go e nmen . The p ime minis e is seldom as impo an as a uling p esiden , and he e
ends o be a highe ocus on o ing o a pa y and i s poli ical ideas han o ing o an ac ual pe son. In his 1867 book
The English Cons i u ion, Wal e Bageho p aised pa liamen a y go e nmen o p oducing se ious deba es, o
allowing change in powe wi hou an elec ion, and o allowing elec ions a any ime. Bageho conside ed he ou -yea
elec ion ule o he Uni ed S a es o be unna u al. Pa liamen a y democ acy in India has become a a ce. Fo he p ope
wo king o pa liamen a y democ acy many p e- equisi es a e needed; ill he leade s a e esponsible and conscious o
hei du ies and esponsi e o he public opinion. Democ acy i sel will no be s able. Bu i is mo e so in he case o
pa liamen a y democ acy because he Council o Minis e s should be esponsible o he Pa liamen and should also ake
in o conside a ion he oice o he people. I hey s a igno ing wha he people wan he Go e nmen will become
dic a o ial in i s beha io .
Majo Challenges
1. C iminaliza ion o Poli ics: The c iminaliza ion o poli ics e e s o he inc easing pa icipa ion o indi iduals wi h
c iminal backg ounds in elec o al poli ics. I is one o he g a es challenges o Indian democ acy, as i unde mines he
p inciples o ee, ai , and clean poli ics. When elec ed ep esen a i es ha e pending c iminal cases, i no only
weakens go e nance bu also e odes public us in democ a ic ins i u ions. C iminaliza ion o poli ics is a se ious h ea
o he wo ld’s la ges democ acy. While judicial in e en ions and e o ms ha e been in oduced, much depends on he
poli ical will o pa ies and he awa eness o ci izens. A igilan elec o a e, s onge legal amewo k, and anspa en
poli ical sys em a e essen ial o cu b his menace and s eng hen he ounda ions o democ acy. As pe ecen epo s o
Associa ion o Democ a ic Re o ms, signi ican membe s o pa liamen a e ha ing c iminal backg ound and cha ges
o mu de , ape and se e e c iminal o ences.
2. Co up P ac ices: A deep ou ed co up ion is he e il o Indian democ a ic sys em which s a s om elec ion
campaigning and con inues h ough end o go e nmen enu e. Co up ion e e s o he abuse o powe o pe sonal
gain. In poli ics, adminis a ion, o business, co up p ac ices weaken go e nance, educe e iciency, and e ode public
us . The e m “co up p ac ices” is also used in elec ion laws o desc ibe une hical o illegal ac i i ies du ing
elec ions. Poli ical Co up ion B ibe y o a o s in con ac s, licenses, o clea ances. Selling go e nmen posi ions o
ans e s. Fa o i ism and nepo ism in appoin men s. Co up p ac ices, whe he in poli ics, elec ions, o adminis a ion,
weaken he ounda ions o democ acy and de elopmen . Elimina ing co up ion equi es no only s ong laws and
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ins i u ions bu also poli ical will and public pa icipa ion. A anspa en , accoun able, and e hical go e nance sys em is
he key o building a jus and equi able socie y.
3. Poli ics o Communaliza ion: The poli ics o communaliza ion e e s o he delibe a e use o eligion, cas e, o
communi y iden i ies o poli ical mobiliza ion. Ins ead o add essing issues like de elopmen , educa ion, o
employmen , poli ical pa ies exploi communal sen imen s o gain o es. This p ac ice weakens secula ism, uels
ha ed, and h ea ens na ional uni y. The poli ics o communaliza ion poses a g a e h ea o India’s democ acy,
secula ism, and uni y. While laws exis o cu b such p ac ices, ue change equi es poli ical will and o e awa eness.
Only when ci izens ejec di isi e poli ics and demand issue-based go e nance can India s eng hen i s democ a ic and
secula ab ic.
4. Regionalism and Sepa a ism: Demands o egional au onomy and iden i y-based poli ics. Some imes leads o
iolen mo emen s and weakens na ional uni y.
5. Money and Muscle Powe in Elec ions: Excessi e elec ion expendi u e, o e-buying, and in imida ion. Elec ions a e
he ounda ion o democ acy. Howe e , in India, elec o al p ocesses a e inc easingly domina ed by money powe
(excessi e use o weal h) and muscle powe (use o in imida ion and c iminal in luence). These p ac ices unde mine
ee and ai elec ions, dis o o e choice, and weaken democ a ic alues. Money Powe in Elec ions High Elec ion
Expendi u e – Candida es spend a beyond he p esc ibed limi s on campaigning. Vo e Buying – Dis ibu ion o cash,
liquo , o gi s o lu e o e s. Co po a e Dona ions – Big businesses und pa ies in e u n o a o able policies. Use o
Black Money – Illici unds a e o en used o campaigning. Media and Ad e ising Domina ion – Weal hy candida es
con ol na a i es h ough la ge-scale publici y. Muscle Powe in Elec ions In imida ion o Vo e s – Th ea ening o
coe cing o e s, especially ma ginalized communi ies. C iminaliza ion o Poli ics – Candida es wi h c iminal eco ds
con es ing and winning elec ions. Boo h Cap u ing & Rigging – Though educed wi h echnology, s ill a conce n in
some egions. Use o Violence – Clashes, io s, and use o local goons o in luence ou comes. C ea es an une en
playing ield and unde mines ee and ai elec ions.
6. Weakening o Pa liamen a y Func ioning: The Pa liamen o India is he sup eme legisla i e body esponsible o
law-making, accoun abili y, and ep esen ing he will o he people. Howe e , o e he yea s, i s e ec i eness has been
ques ioned due o equen dis up ions, decline in deba es, and he g owing dominance o he execu i e. This
weakening o pa liamen a y unc ioning poses a se ious challenge o Indian democ acy. Pa liamen is he hea o
India’s democ acy, bu i s weakening unc ioning educes i s ole o a symbolic ins i u ion a he han a delibe a i e
body. Res o ing pa liamen a y digni y equi es e o ms in p ocedu es, commi men om poli ical pa ies, and g ea e
esponsibili y om membe s. A s ong and ib an Pa liamen is essen ial o sa egua ding cons i u ional democ acy.
Dis up ions, walkou s, and lack o deba e in legisla u es. Decline in quali y o law-making and accoun abili y o
go e nmen .
7. Challenges o Fede alism: India has a quasi- ede al sys em wi h a s ong cen e and au onomous s a es. The
Cons i u ion balances uni y and di e si y h ough dis ibu ion o powe s be ween Union and S a es. Howe e , Indian
ede alism aces se e al challenges due o poli ical, economic, and social ac o s. Majo Challenges o Fede alism
Cen aliza ion o Powe The Union o en domina es s a es in subjec s like law & o de , educa ion, and axa ion. Use o
cen al agencies (CBI, ED, NIA) some imes c ea es ension wi h s a es. Go e no ’s Role Go e no s a e appoin ed by
he Cen e bu ac in s a es, leading o poli ical con lic s. O en accused o being “agen s o he Cen e.” P esiden ’s
Rule (A icle 356) Misuse o A icle 356 in he pas o dismiss s a e go e nmen s on poli ical g ounds. Financial
Imbalances Cen e con ols majo sou ces o e enue while s a es depend on cen al ans e s (Finance Commission,
GST Council). C ea es ic ion o e esou ce alloca ion. In e -S a e Wa e and Bo de Dispu es Con lic s o e i e s
(e.g., Cau e y, K ishna, Ra i-Beas) and s a e bounda ies (e.g., Assam-Mizo am, Maha ash a-Ka na aka). Regionalism
and Sepa a ism Demands o g ea e au onomy o e en sepa a e s a es (e.g., Go khaland, Bodoland). Some imes leads
o iolence and ins abili y. Poli ical Ri al y be ween Cen e and S a es Di e en pa ies uling a he Cen e and s a es
o en clash o e policies, implemen a ion, and language issues. Cen e-s a e dispu es o e esou ces, language, and
powe s.
8. Judicia y-Execu i e Tensions: The Indian Cons i u ion p o ides o he sepa a ion o powe s among he legisla u e,
execu i e, and judicia y. While checks and balances a e essen ial o democ acy, equen ensions be ween he
judicia y and execu i e c ea e go e nance challenges. These con lic s usually e ol e a ound he appoin men o
judges, judicial ac i ism, and limi s o execu i e au ho i y. Majo P oblems in Judicia y–Execu i e Tensions Judicial
Appoin men s The dispu e o e he Collegium Sys em (judges appoin ing judges) s. he NJAC (Na ional Judicial
Appoin men s Commission). Execu i e demands a g ea e say in appoin men s; judicia y insis s on independence.
Judicial O e each / Ac i ism Judicia y some imes in e enes in policy-making (e.g., en i onmen al, adminis a i e,
and economic ma e s).Execu i e accuses judicia y o enc oaching on i s domain. Delays in Judicial Appoin men s
Con lic s be ween he go e nmen and judicia y cause acancies in High Cou s and Sup eme Cou . Leads o case
backlogs and weake jus ice deli e y. O dinances and Execu i e Ac ions The execu i e o en uses o dinance powe s o
bypass Pa liamen . Judicia y e iews such o dinances and may s ike hem down, leading o ic ion. Con emp o
Cou s. F eedom o Speech Execu i e leade s some imes c i icize judicial decisions. Judicia y eac s s ongly unde
con emp laws, aising ques ions o accoun abili y. Public In e es Li iga ions (PILs) PILs ha e expanded judicial
Jou nal o Resea ch and De elopmen
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powe in o go e nance a eas. Execu i e eels cons ained by cou di ec ions in adminis a i e ma e s. Judicial Re iew
o Policies Cou s ha e s uck down execu i e decisions (e.g., cons i u ional amendmen s, bans, o economic policies).
Execu i e pe cei es his as obs uc ion o go e nance. Con lic s be ween judicial ac i ism and pa liamen a y
sup emacy. Raises ques ions on sepa a ion o powe s and cons i u ional balance.
9. Challenges o Secula ism: Secula ism in he Indian Con ex Secula ism is ensh ined in he P eamble and p o ec ed
unde A icles 25-28. Howe e , poli ical and social con lic s ha e o en h ea ened India's secula ab ic. Secula ism, in
i s ue sense, means ha all eligions a e equal in he eyes o he s a e and ha he go e nmen does no a o o
disc imina e agains any pa icula eligion. In India, his concep ensu es ha he s a e ea s all eligions wi h equal
espec while allowing indi iduals he eedom o p ac ice, p opaga e, and manage hei eligious a ai s. Unlike he
Wes e n model, which o en emphasizes a s ic sepa a ion be ween eligion and he s a e, Indian secula ism ollows a
p inciple o equal ea men a he han comple e de achmen . The Indian Cons i u ion upholds secula ism h ough
A icles 25-28, which gua an ee eligious eedom while imposing easonable es ic ions in he in e es o public o de ,
mo ali y, and heal h. The 42nd Amendmen (1976) explici ly included he wo d "secula " in he P eamble, ein o cing
he commi men o eligious neu ali y. The Sup eme Cou , in S.R. Bommai . Union o India (1994), uled ha
secula ism is a pa o he Basic S uc u e Doc ine, meaning i canno be al e ed e en h ough cons i u ional
amendmen s. Howe e , issues like communal poli ics, eligious-based ese a ions, and deba es on he Uni o m Ci il
Code con inue o challenge India's secula amewo k.
Remedies:
1. Ban on Candida es who had c iminal backg ound. 2. S ic ules and punishmen o poli ical co up ion. 3. Ban on
poli ics o communaliza ion. 4. Equal concen a ion on all egions. 5. Inclusion o educa ional and o he quali ica ions
in poli ics. 6. Poli ical e o ms. 7. E hical and alue-based educa ion. 8. Awa eness o public owa ds poli ics. 9. Se ing
up o Fas T ack Cou s o handle Poli ical Scams.
Conclusion:
Being a bigges democ acy in he wo ld, India passed 75 yea s o pa liamen a y sys em o go e nmen h ough
minimum successes and mos o ailu es. I ailed o upli ing he poo , women and down odden people e en a e
becoming “VishawaGu u” o 5 h la ges economy in he wo ld. Mos pe cen age o he Indian popula ion s ill su e ing
om po e y, g owing unemploymen , unde de elopmen and lack o minimum essen ials o lead a good and
quali a i e li e. The Indian poli ics su ounded by igh is , le is and cen is app oaches a he han wel a e o public
and de elopmen o India. He e i is he good ime o e o ms and changes in poli ics wi h he empowe men o Indian
Public h ough alid poli ical educa ion and awa eness abou he impo ance o ac i e poli ical pa icipa ion.
The Indian Cons i u ion and pa liamen a y democ acy ha e success ully sus ained o mo e han se en
decades despi e immense challenges. Howe e , he ising ends o co up ion, communalism, poli ical oppo unism,
and weakening o pa liamen a y p ac ices need u gen e o ms. The s eng h o India’s democ acy depends no only on
cons i u ional sa egua ds bu also on poli ical will, ins i u ional in eg i y, and an awa e ci izen y. Sa egua ding
democ acy equi es collec i e esponsibili y om leade s, ins i u ions, and people alike. India has a leng hy w i en
Cons i u ion, a ede al dis ibu ion o powe s and a lis o undamen al igh s. The e o e pa liamen a y law o be alid
mus con i m in all espec s wi h he cons i u ion.
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