The principle of collective responsibility is the bedrock principle o...
- The ministers are collectively responsible to the Parliament and the Lok Sabha in particular (Article 75).
- They act as a team and swim and sink together. The principle of collective responsibility implies that the Lok Sabha can remove the ministry (i.e." council of ministers headed by the prime minister) from office by passing a vote of no confidence.
- Members of the council of ministers are bound by consensus. The government cannot have two opinions on the same issue.
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The principle of collective responsibility is the bedrock principle o...
The principle of collective responsibility is indeed the bedrock principle of parliamentary government. It has significant implications for the functioning of the government and the relationship between the executive and legislative branches. Let us examine the two statements given in the question and explain why both of them are correct.
1. Lok Sabha can remove the council of ministers from office by passing a vote of no confidence:
The Lok Sabha, as the lower house of the Parliament of India, has the power to remove the council of ministers from office by passing a vote of no confidence. This means that if a majority of the members of the Lok Sabha express a lack of confidence in the council of ministers, they can effectively remove them from office. This power is a crucial aspect of the principle of collective responsibility because it ensures that the executive branch remains accountable to the legislature. If the council of ministers fails to enjoy the support of the majority in the Lok Sabha, they cannot effectively govern and must either resign or be removed from office through a vote of no confidence.
2. The Council of Ministers as a whole is bound by consensus:
The principle of collective responsibility implies that the council of ministers, as a collective body, is bound by consensus. This means that decisions taken by the council of ministers are binding on all its members, regardless of their individual views or opinions. Once a decision is made collectively, all members of the council of ministers are expected to support and defend that decision, even if they personally disagree with it. This ensures that the government presents a united front and operates as a cohesive body. It also ensures that the executive branch remains accountable to the legislature, as decisions taken by the council of ministers can be scrutinized and debated in the Parliament.
In conclusion, both statements are correct. The principle of collective responsibility ensures that the Lok Sabha can remove the council of ministers through a vote of no confidence, and it also binds the council of ministers as a whole by consensus. These aspects of the principle are fundamental to the functioning of parliamentary government and the relationship between the executive and legislative branches.
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