Why Rajya Sabha has more importance than Legislative Councils?
Q. Which of the following are true?
1) Rajya Sabha represents the states.
2) Legislative Council is formed for ensuring federal character of India.
3) Rajya Sabha is more homogenously constituted than Legislative Councils.- Published on 07 Mar 17a. 2, 3
b. 1, 3
c. 1, 2
d. All of the above
ANSWER: 1, 3
- The Rajya Sabha has equal powers with the Lok Sabha in all spheres except financial matters and with regard to the control over the Government.
Even though both the council and the Rajya Sabha are second chambers, the Constitution has given the council much lesser importance than the Rajya Sabha due to below reasons -
1. The Rajya Sabha consists of the representatives of the states.
2. It depicts the federal element of the polity.
3. It maintains the federal equilibrium by protecting the interests of the states.
4. Therefore, it has to be an effective revising body and not just an advisory body or dilatory body like the council.
5. Issue of federal significance does not arise in the case of a council.
6. The council is heterogeneously constituted. It represents different interests and consists of differently elected members and also includes some nominated members.
7. Its very composition makes its position weak and reduces its use as an effective revising body.
8. Rajya Sabha is homogeneously constituted.
9. It represents only the states and consists of primarily elected members.
10. The position accorded to the council is in accordance with the principles of democracy.
11. The council should yield to the assembly, which is a popular house.
12. This pattern of relationship between the two Houses of the State Legislature is adopted from the British model
- The critics have described the council as a ‘secondary chamber’, ‘costly ornamental luxury’, ‘white elephant’, etc.
- The critics have opined that the council has served as a refuge for those who are defeated in the assembly elections.
- It enabled the unpopular, rejected and ambitious politicians to occupy the post of a chief minister or a minister or a member of the State Legislature.
Even though the council has been given less powers as compared with the assembly, its use is supported on the following basis -
1. It checks the hasty, defective and ill-considered legislation made by the assembly by making provision for revision and thought.
2. It facilitates representation of eminent professionals and experts who cannot face direct elections.
3. The governor nominates one-sixth members of the council to provide representation to such people.
