Collective Responsibility

NATIONAL LAW UNIVERSITY

JODHPUR 

CONSTITUTIONAL GOVERNANCE GOVERNANCE – II

ASSIGNMENT CA III

U.G. SEMESTER – II

Winter Session (January - Apri !"#$% Wor& 'ount #$!$

SUBMITTED BY:

SUBMITTED TO:

R No #!)#

Aa*an*s+a ,uar

Se'tion A

.a'uty o/ 0a1

 

TABLE OF CONTENT

TABLE OF CONTENT............................................................................2 INTRODUCTION..................................................................................3 WHETHER HARSIMRAT KAUR VIOLATED COLLECTIVE RESPONSIBILITY?.7 IF THIS MATTER WERE TO BE BROUGHT UP IN COURT, WOULD THE ALLEGATION AGAINST MS. KAUR STAND?..............................................9 INDEX OF AUTHORITIES.....................................................................11

pg. 

INTRODUCTION

T+e Coun'i o/ Ministers is 'oe'ti2e responsi3e or ans1era3e to t+e 0o* Sa3+a Coe'ti2e Responsi3iity eans a Ministers s+are a 'oe'ti2e responsi3iity e2en /or t+e &e'isions in 1+i'+ t+ey +a2e ta*en no part 1+atsoe2er or in 1+i'+ t+ey +a2e &issente& at t+e eetin4 o/  t+e Coun'i o/ Ministers5 t+e e3ers o/ t+e Coun'i o/ Ministers e6press a 'oon opinion It eans unaniity an& 'on/i&entiaity # Ca3inet o/ Ministers is t+e &ri2in4 an& steerin4 3o&y responsi3e /or t+e Go2ernan'e o/ t+e 'ountry! A Ca3inet o/ Ministers is t+e nu'eus o/ t+e Coun'i o/ Ministers It is 'opose& o/ inisters o/ 2arious ran*s i*e Ca3inet Ministers5 Ministers o/ State5 Deputy Ministers et' T+e Coun'i o/ Ministers is responsi3e as a 3o&y /or t+e 4enera 'on&u't o/ t+e a//airs o/ t+e Go2ernent A t+e inister eit+er sin*  or sai to4et+er in Pariaent an& t+e Go2ernent is 'arrie& on as a unity T+e prin'ipe o/ 'oe'ti2e responsi3iity /in&s a /ora aut+ority in t+e In&ian Constitution Arti'e 78 entions 2arious pro2isions a3out inisters T+e 'ause 9 re&u'es t+e 3asi'  prin'ipe o/ pariaentary 4o2ernent to a statutory /or Un&er t+e prin'ipe5 a inister5 as a e3er o/ Coun'i o/ Ministers5 'annot +a2e a &i//erent poi'y o/ +is o1n /ro t+e rest o/  t+e 'a3inet A inisters stan& or /a to4et+er in t+e pariaent5 an& t+e 4o2ernent is 'arrie& on as a unit an& as a 3o&y 'oan&s t+e 'on/i&en'e o/ t+e +ouse an& t+at Ca3inets &e'isions are t+e :oint &e'isions o/ a Ministers 9 0ia3iity o/ a sin4e inister ies on 1+oe 'a3inet an& 2i'e 2ersa T+ey 1or* as a tea an& s1i or sin* to4et+er W+en t+e 0o* Sa3+a  passes a no-'on/i&en'e otion a4ainst t+e 'oun'i o/ inisters5 a t+e inisters +a2e to resi4n in'u&in4 t+ose inisters 1+o are /ro t+e Ra:ya Sa3+a

# Datta:i C+iran&as 2 State O/ Gu: AIR #;;; Gu: <<8 ! SR =oai 2 UOI5 (#;;<% 9 SCC # 9 State o/ Jau an& ,as+ir 2 =a*s+i Gua Mo+&5 AIR #;$7 SC #!! pg. !

As a e3er o/ Coun'i o/ Ministers5 a person 'annot +a2e a &i//erent poi'y o/ +is o1n /ro t+e rest o/ t+e 'a3inet A inisters stan& or /a to4et+er in t+e pariaent5 an& t+e 4o2ernent is 'arrie& on as a unit an& as a 3o&y 'oan&s t+e 'on/i&en'e o/ t+e +ouse an& t+at Ca3inets &e'isions are t+e :oint &e'isions o/ a Ministers < A''or&in4 to t+e Supree Court5 Coe'ti2e Responsi3iity eans t+at >A e3ers o/ a 4o2ernent are unanious in support o/ its poi'ies an& 1ou& e6+i3it t+at unaniity on pu3i' o''asions at+ou4+ 1+ie /oruatin4 t+e poi'ies5 t+ey i4+t +a2e e6presse& a &i//erent opinion? 8 T+e prin'ipe is not iite& to erey ia3iities an& 'oe'ti2e &e'isions ony It is e6ten&e& to t+at inisters ust not 2ote5 spea* a4ainst 'a3inet &e'isions an& re2ea its se'rets to pu3i' T+e 'on'ept o/ 'oe'ti2e responsi3iity is essentiay a poiti'a 'on'ept T+e 'ountry is 4o2erne& 3y t+e party in po1er on t+e 3asis o/ t+e poi'ies a&opte& an& ai& &o1n 3y it in t+e Ca3inet Meetin4 Coe'ti2e Responsi3iity +as t1o eanin4s5 /irst t+at a e3ers o/ a 4o2ernent are unanious in support o/ its poi'ies an& 1ou& e6+i3it t+at unaniity on  pu3i' o''asions an& t+e ot+er eanin4 is t+at Ministers5 1+o +a& an opportunity to spea* /or  or a4ainst t+e poi'ies in t+e Ca3inet are t+ere3y personay an& oray responsi3e /or its su''ess an& /aiure$ A Ministers s+are 'oe'ti2e responsi3iity e2en /or &e'isions in 1+i'+ t+ey +a2e ta*en no  part 1+atsoe2er or in 1+i'+ t+ey i4+t +a2e &issente& at t+e eetin4 o/ t+e Coun'i o/  Ministers Coe'ti2e Responsi3iity eans t+e e3ers o/ Coun'i o/ Ministers e6press a 'oon opinion It eans unaniity an& 'on/i&entiaity 7 It e2en e6ten&s to t+at t+e

< State o/ Jau an& ,as+ir 2 =a*s+i Gua Mo+&5 AIR #;$7 SC #!! 8 Coon Cause- A Re4& So'iety 2 Union o/ In&ia5 AIR #;;; SC !;7; $ I& 7 Supra Note # pg. "

&ei3erations o/ t+e Ca3inet are *ept se'ret an& 'on/i&entia in t+e /uture an& its pu3i'ation 'an 3e pre2ente&) T+e &uty o/ t+e inister is not erey to support t+e 4o2ernent5 3ut to restrain /ro a*in4 any spee'+ 1+i'+ is 'ontrary to t+e 'a3inet poi'y or a*e a &e'aration o/ Poi'y in a spee'+ upon t+ere is no 'a3inet &e'ision A Go2ernent a/ter t+e pariaentary o&e5 is one unite& 1+oe an& +as a :oint responsi3iity Ea'+ e3er o/ t+e 4o2ernent +as to support t+e ot+ers so on4 as +e reains in t+e 4o2ernent T+e Minister +as to support +is ot+er Ministers an& t+e ot+er Ministers +a2e to support ea'+ ot+er an& t+e C+ie/  Minister It is @uite a3sur& /or any Minister to oppose or 4i2e e2en t+e ipression o/  opposin4 a 'oea4ue o/ +is Opinions ay 3e /reey e6presse& 1it+in t+e Ca3inet Outsi&e5 t+e 4o2ernent s+ou& +a2e ony one opinion A Minister 'annot &iso1n responsi3iity /or  any Ca3inet &e'ision so on4 as +e reains a Minister He 'annot 3ot+ reain a Minister an& 'riti'ie or oppose a Ca3inet &e'ision or e2en a&opt an attitu&e o/ neutraity5 or oppose a 'oea4ue in pu3i' =y t+e 2irtue o/ arti'e 78 o/ t+e Constitution o/ In&ia5 a Coun'i o/  Ministers5 +ea&e& 3y t+e Prie Minister5 it appointe& 3y t+e Presi&ent 78(!% states t+at t+e o//i'e is +e& on t+e &esire o/ t+e Presi&ent an& 78(9% a*es t+e Coun'i 'opetey ia3e to t+e House o/ Peope or 0o* Sa3+a ; T+e 'a3inet is responsi3e to t+e e4isature /or e2ery a'tion ta*en in any o/ t+e Ministries T+e Coun'i o/ Ministers are responsi3e to t+e 0o*  Sa3+a not ony as an in&i2i&ua aone 3ut 'oe'ti2e aso T+e o3:e't o/ 'oe'ti2e responsi3iity is to a*e t+e 1+oe 3o&y o/ person +o&in4 inisteria o//i'e 'oe'ti2ey or 2i'ariousy responsi3e /or t+eir a'ts In t+e a3sen'e o/ any  poiti'a party +a2in4 a In&ia stron4 3ase an& support &urin4 ast se2era years5 t+ere +as  3een in'ine to /oration o/ ore an& ore 'oaition 4o2ernents Parti'ipatin4 parties o/ a 'oaition 4o2ernent +a2e &rasti' &i//eren'e is t+eir 'ore i&eoo4ies an& poi'ies an& t+is

) Attorney Genera 2 Jonat+an Cape 0t&5 B#;7$ = 78! ; Supra Note 8 pg. #

ten&s to s+o1 in t+e pu3i' spee'+es an& stateents o/ its inisters T+is p+enoenon is  :eopar&iin4 to t+e prin'ipe o/ 'oe'ti2e responsi3iity

pg. $

WHETHER HARSIMRAT KAUR VIOLATED COLLECTIVE RESPONSIBILITY?

In t+e present 'onte6t t+e stateent o/ Mrs =a&a supportin4 an& praisin4 t+e &e'ision o/ t+e A*ai Da Go2ernent re4ar&in4 t+e &e-noti/i'ation o/ an& aotte& /or t+e purpose o/  ere'tion o/ S0 Cana 'eary is in 'ontra2ention to t+e prin'ipe o/ Coe'ti2e Responsi3iity o/ t+e Coun'i o/ Ministers Union .oo& Pro'essin4 In&ustries inister Mrs Harsirat ,aur  =a&a 1as @uote& as sayin4-F T+is is t+e +istori' &ay 1+en S+iroani A*ai Da (SAD% un&er  t+e ost &ynai' ea&ers+ip o/ Sar&ar Par*as+ Sin4+ =a&a +as sette& t+e issue on'e /or a We +a2e put a 3i4 /u-stop on e//orts o/ a 4ui3e Con4ress e& 3y Capt Aarin&er Sin4+ to '+eat /arers an& a*e t+e 3eie2e t+ey 1ere ea&in4 t+e 3atte a4ainst reeasin4 1aters t+rou4+ t+e S0 'ana to HaryanaF #" T+e a3o2e stateent o/ Mrs =a&a 'eary s+o1s t+at s+e is in 'ear &isa4reeent to t+e &e'ision o/ +er o1n NDA Ca3inet 1+i'+ /a2ours spee&in4 up t+e 'onstru'tion o/ t+e S0 'ana an& to t+is e//e't +as re'enty /ie& an a//i&a2it in t+e Honoura3e Supree Court /or spee&in4 up t+e 1or* on t+e 'onstru'tion o/ t+e 'ana E2ery Minister ust support t+e &e'ision o/ t+e Coun'i5 +e 'annot 3ot+ reain a Minister an& 'riti'ise or oppose a Ca3inet &e'ision or e2en a&opt an attitu&e o/ neutraity5 or oppose a 'oea4ue in pu3i'## In t+e present 'ase t+e a3o2e @uote& stateent o/ Mrs =a&a 'eary 2ioates t+e responsi3iity e2ie& upon +er un&er t+e prin'ipe o/ Coe'ti2e Responsi3iity &ue to t+e 2irtue o/ +er 3ein4 a Ca3inet Minister Ae4ations on +er on t+e 2ioation o/ t+e 'oe'ti2e responsi3iity stan& on 1is+ o/ t+e Coun'i o/ Minister I/ it 'onsi&ers t+at s+e is 2ioatin45 s+e 'an 3e reo2e& 3ut it is on t+e &is'retion o/ Coun'i o/ Ministers an& t+e Prie Minister aone #"

+ttp111'ityairne1s'o'ontent'on4ress-e6pose&-&ou3e-spea*-o2er-sy-issue-

+arsirat-*aur-3a&a

## MP J AIN5 I NDIAN CONSTITUTIONA0 0AW ($t+ e& !"#"% P4 #$$ pg. %

pg. &

IF THIS MATTER WERE TO BE BROUGHT UP IN COURT, WOULD THE ALLEGATION AGAINST MS. KAUR STAND?

Coe'ti2e responsi3iity is ot+er1ise *no1n as t+e poiti'a responsi3iity o/ t+e inisters as &istin4uis+e& /ro t+eir e4a or in&i2i&ua responsi3iity /or any ie4a a't &one 3y +i  personay or un&er +is or&ers #! Arti'e 78(9% a*es t+e Coun'i o/ Ministers responsi3e ony to t+e House o/ Peope T+e Prie Minister an& +is inisters are 'oe'ti2ey ans1era3e to t+e House o/ t+e Peope On no ot+er 'on&ition 'an a Coun'i o/ Ministers 1or* as a tea T+e Court 'annot en/or'e Arti'e 78(9% o/ T+e Constitution as it is ony t+e Prie Minister 1+o en/or'es Coe'ti2e Responsi3iity aon4st t+e Ministers t+rou4+ +is utiate po1er to &isiss a Minister #9 T+e Ministers are appointe& 3y t+e Presi&ent on t+e a&2i'e o/ t+e Prie Minister#< ote o/ 'on/i&en'e is t+e ony et+o& 3y 1+i'+ +ouse o/   peope 'an en/or'e 'oe'ti2e responsi3iity A otion o/ No Con/i&en'e 'an 3e intro&u'e& ony in t+e 0o* Sa3+a T+e otion is a&itte& /or &is'ussion 1+en a iniu o/ /i/ty e3ers o/ t+e +ouse support t+e otion I/ t+e otion 'arries5 t+e +ouse &e3ates an& 2otes on t+e otion I/ a a:ority o/ t+e e3ers o/ t+e +ouse 2ote in /a2or o/ t+e otion5 t+e otion is passe& an& t+e Go2ernent is 3oun& to 2a'ate t+e o//i'e Coents an& stateents a&e 3y Harsirat ,aur =a&a ay 3e a 2ioation o/ t+e 'o&e o/  'oe'ti2e responsi3iity5 3ut it 'annot 3e en/or'e& 3y t+e 'ourt As a >poiti'a responsi3iity?5 t+is is an aut+ority 'on'e&e& to t+e 4o2ernent ony Sin'e t+e =JP e& 4o2ernent is in a:ority in t+e House o/ Peope5 no-'on/i&en'e otion 'annot 3e 3rou4+t Harsirat ,aur  =a&a 1ou& reain as a inister in t+e Ca3inet on t+e 3e+est o/ t+e Prie Minister an& t+e

#! HA0S=UR5
rest o/ t+e Coun'i I/ t+ey 1is+5 ,aur 'an 3e as*e& to resi4n an& 2a'ate 3ut t+is 'annot 3e en/or'e& 3y a t+ir& party A 'ase a4ainst +er in t+e Court 'annot 3e 3rou4+t an& any '+ar4es a4ainst +er 1ou& not stan& So it is 2ery 'ear /ro t+e a3o2e ar4uents t+at t+e Court 'annot reo2e Mrs =a&a /ro +er port/oio as t+e en/or'eent o/ Coe'ti2e Responsi3iity is &one 3y t+e Prie Minister aone

pg. ()

INDEX OF AUTHORITIES

CASES

 Attorney General v. Jonathan Cape Ltd 5 B#;7$ = 78!8 Coon Cause- A Re4& So'iety 2 Union o/ In&ia5 AIR #;;; SC !;7;-------------------------8 Common Cause- A Regd. Society  2 Union of India5 AIR #;;; SC !;7;---------------------<  atta!i Chirandas v. State of Gu!arat 5 AIR #;;; Gu: <)------------------------------------------8 Datta:i C+iran&as 2s State o/ Gu:arat5 AIR #;;; Gu: <)58;5 AIR #;;; Gu: <)58;------------9 S.". Anand# Indore vs. $.. eve Go%da-------------------------------------------------------------; S.R. &ommai v. U'I 5 (#;;<% 9 SCC #------------------------------------------------------------------9 State o/ Jau an& ,as+ir 2 =a*s+i Gua Mo+&5 AIR #;$7 SC #!!------------------------< State of Jammu and (ashmir v. &a)shi Gulam *ohd 5 AIR #;$7 SC #!!------------------------<

STATUTES

Constitution o/ In&ia5 #;8"-----------------------------------------------------------------------------8

TREATISES

HA0S=UR5
pg. ((