Organisation of All India Whips’ Conference is one of the functions assigned to the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs in the Government of India (Allocation of Business) Rules made under Article 77(3) of the Constitution of India. The Ministry has organised as many as 13 Whips’ Conferences so far at different places in the country. The Thirteenth All India Whips’ Conference was held at Dr. M.C.R. H.R.D. Institute, Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh on 4-5 February, 2005. The Conference was hosted by the Government of Andhra Pradesh.

2. In a parliamentary system, Whips of political parties play a very important role. The efficient and smooth functioning of the parliamentary system depends to a considerable extent upon the office of the ‘Whips’ who can be rightly said to be the managers of the parties within the legislatures.

3. Both ruling as well as opposition parties appoint their Whips but certain duties are common to the Whips of all the parties. The Government Chief Whip has some very important duties concerning the mapping, monitoring and management of government business in the House. Another important function of the Government Chief Whip is to constantly feel the pulse of the house and apprise the leader of the government about the happenings in the House. They keep in close touch with the Whips of the other parties also on matters concerning the business in the House as also on many other matters relating to the House as a whole.

4. The Whips supply their members with all important information and ensure the presence and participation of Members of their respective parties in the House, especially during important discussions and voting. They also inter-act with the Presiding Officers and the secretariat of the concerned House on behalf of their parties and Members to ensure efficient coordination vis-a-vis the complex requirements of parliamentary procedures, practices and conventions.

5. The first such Conference of Whips was held at Indore in September, 1952. So far a total number of thirteen All India Whips’ Conferences have been organized by the Union Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs as detailed below:

6. The All India Whips’ Conference, which is attended by the Government Chief Whips and Chief Whips of the parties represented in the Central and State Legislatures, is presided over by the Union Minister of Parliamentary Affairs. After the deliberations, the Conference makes recommendations with a view to improving the functioning of the parliamentary system. These recommendations are adopted unanimously by the Conference. The recommendations made by the Whips’ Conference are pursued by the Union Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs for implementation at the Centre as well as in the States.

7. The 13^th All India Whips’ Conference, hosted by the Government of Andhra Pradesh, was held in the Main Auditorium of Dr. MCR HRD Institute, Jubilee Hills, Hyderabad on 4-5 February, 2005. It was inaugurated by His Excellency Shri Bhairon Singh Shekhawat, Vice President of India and Chairman, Rajya Sabha on 4^th of February, 2005. Shri Pranab Mukherji, Minister of Defence and Leader of the Lok Sabha, also addressed the gathering. The Conference was presided over by Shri Ghulam Nabi Azad, the Union Minister of Parliamentary Affairs and Urban Development, Government of India. Shri K.R. Suresh Reddy, Hon’ble Speaker of Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly and Shri K.Rosaiah, the Minister of Finance and Legislative Affairs also graced the occasion.

8. The Inaugural Session of the Conference was followed by Plenary Sessions in the afternoon of February 4, 2005 and the forenoon of February 5, 2005. During these Plenary Sessions as many as 15 items relating to Parliament and State Legislatures were taken up for consideration. After detailed deliberations, the Conference made various recommendations (Annex), which were presented in the Valedictory Session in the afternoon of February 5, 2005. Shri Somnath Chatterjee, Hon’ble Speaker, Lok Sabha delivered the Valedictory Address. The Valedictory Session was also attended by His Excellency Shri Sushil Kumar Shinde, the Governor of Andhra Pradesh and Dr. Y. S. Rajashekhara Reddy the Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh.

9. The Conference was attended by Ministers of Parliamentary Affairs Department in the States and Chief Whips/Whips of parties in the Houses of Parliament and in the Legislative Assemblies/Councils of the States. 13 Leaders/Chief Whips/Whips representing 11 major political parties in Parliament participated in this Conference. In addition, 9 Ministers of Parliamentary Affairs of the State Governments and 48 Chief Whips/Whips of the State Legislatures belonging to 20 States/UTs attended the Conference.

A large number of Whips expressed their concern regarding the gradual decrease in the number of sittings of the Parliament and Legislatures, particularly in the states where in some cases the legislatures have become non-functional.

The Conference was of the view that every effort should be made to have sufficiently long sessions of Parliament and State Legislatures.

Opinion varied about the optimal number of sittings. In the case of Parliament, it ranged between 100 to 130 days, while in case of State Legislatures, the number suggested was 70 to 90 for bigger States and about 50 for smaller States.

2. LINKING PAYMENT OF DAILY ALLOWANCES TO ATTENDANCE, CONDUCT OF BUSINESS IN THE HOUSE, ETC.

Taking note of the fact that Members of Parliament and many State Legislatures are not entitled to daily allowance unless they sign the attendance register maintained for the purpose, the Conference recommends that those States / UTs which have not so far made such a provision should take immediate steps to do so.

In view of the fact that on some occasions disturbances in the House, lead to adjournments without transacting any business, the Conference resolves that the principle of "No work – No Allowance" should apply to the Members of Parliament and State Legislatures. Accordingly, no Daily Allowance need be paid for the day when the House is adjourned without transacting any business. Necessary amendment to this effect may be incorporated in the relevant Act and Rules.

The Conference appreciates the successful efforts made by the Parliament for the regular and direct telecast of the entire proceedings of the two Houses of Parliament through satellite and recommends that steps may be taken for regular and direct telecast of the proceedings of the State/UT Legislatures too, wherever it has not been done already. For this purpose necessary guidance and help of the Union Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, if required, may also be sought and obtained.

4. SETTING UP OF A DEPARTMENT OF PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS IN THE STATES

The All India Whips Conferences, in the past, have recommended that in view of the very useful role being performed by the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs at the centre and for bringing about uniformity in parliamentary practices and procedures throughout the country, all States/UT’s must set up an independent Department of Parliamentary Affairs on the pattern at the centre. The Conference noted that twenty states have already implemented the recommendation.

The Conference reiterates the view held by the Twelfth All India Whips’ Conference that the institution of the Consultative Committees attached to the various Ministries serves a very useful purpose of consultation between the Government and the Members of Parliament on policies, programmes and activities of the government and, therefore, this institution needs to be further strengthened. The Conference recommends that Consultative Committees should be set up in all the States/Union Territories.

The system of giving ‘Assurances’ by Ministers and their implementation thereafter is an innovation of Indian Parliament. The implementation of
Assurances result in a positive flow of information to the House in respect of matters of interest to the Members. The Conference, however, regretted that an unduly long time is taken by the Government in implementing the assurances.